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Being the new kid isn’t always easy

Especially when you’re “different”

At this new school I heard and saw things I hadn’t before

So it was kind of a culture shock

I was bullied for the first time, but never physically

Verbally. I had never been called this

Let alone heard this word

I had not idea what it meant and was extremely confused

Was it how I looked?

Did I have this written across my forehead?

Was it what I wore?

From elementary to middle school, I heard the same statement

How did people I had never met know so much about me?

“He’s gay”

“Put those back, they’re too small”

“Get husky”

Since about seventh grade, I have had body image issues

I’d see other boys shirtless at the beach or pool

And instantly wanted to leave

I didn’t like sleeveless shirts and hated taking pictures

I even got teased for being bigger

Eventually I lost weight

I promised myself I wouldn’t be overweight again

I was skinny and “not gay”

And I was happy or at least I thought so

It took a while for me to be comfortable with my sexuality

Once I began to feel a certain way for boys

I dated girls and tried to be “normal”

In high school no one teased me for being gay

I trained myself to never be upset about what people said about me

To be myself because I only get one chance at life

And to live it how I wanted to

My freshmen year of college I gained weight and I wasn’t upset

I was a few pounds overweight but overall

I was healthy and that’s all that mattered to me

I’ve learned over time that people are just different

Different sexualities, sizes, colors

Although I had a “glow up” externally

The biggest glow up I’m proud of is internally

Acceptance.

Learning to accept myself and others.