Throughout my research on transgenderism and gender dysphoria, I kept coming across the idea that representation matters. This seems obvious, because yeah it is, but I didn’t realize how dominant it actually was. How naive of me, for assuming that an accepting, welcoming environment could make up for a lack of visibility. From the fictional tale of Claude to the experiences of the various TED speakers though, it was clear that having supportive friends and family isn’t enough. Despite knowing their close, immediate community was understanding of their identity, people struggled to be themselves until they saw those similar to them in the mainstream. It’s made me realize just how important having trans models, actors, and athletes is and why we as a society should not only support, but truly prioritize, that representation.
I’ve also learned that the truth always has a way of coming out, aka it’s inevitable. Whether it’s hiding one’s true identity from others or even ourselves, it can only be denied for so long. Ultimately, it’s much harder to pretend or put up a facade, than to live the truth, no matter how difficult or impossible it may appear. All of the voices I sourced from were people who openly live as trans, though they all came out at different points in their lives. The common denominator then, was that they all decided to accept the truth about themselves and live authentically. I found the lesson inspiring but also sage advice, as any effort dedicated to hiding oneself is effort wasted.
TLDR: actions speak louder than words; amplify trans voices now. If there’s nothing else you take away from my video, please remember that.
Now I’m not sure how to segway this smoothly, so I’m gonna take a moment to reflect on my own experience at NNHS. I believe the most important thing I learned over the last four years is people over matter. Maybe this doesn’t apply to everyone, but I found myself happiest when I was with others, whether it be loved ones or strangers. I joke that I’m an introverted extrovert, which is kind of true, because I’m fairly shy by nature for someone who loves people like Kanye loves Kanye. But at the end of the day, I know it’ll ring true, because I feel most satisfied by the depth of my relationships, not the breadth of my accolades. Achieving your dreams is important, very important, second only to fulfilling your relationships to others. Because without people along the way, you’ll arrive at your destination alone, more lost than when you began. I’ve tried to remember this over the past few years and hope to for the rest of my life, since I know that’s what’s helped me lived a more meaningful, enjoyable, and fulfilling life.
As for the one thing I’d tell incoming seniors, I’m gonna rip off 2014 aspiration/inspirational tumblr tik tok (plagiarism is not ok unless you are graduating in 3 days in which case it’s frowned upon but technically unpunishable). Ready for “my” words of wisdom? Here it is:
Comparison is the thief of joy.
There’s always going to be someone smarter, more athletic, more popular, more artistic, more social … you get the point. Well, there’s always someone “better” than you, or at least that’s how it seems in the moment, in your little anxiety-fueled, college application crazed, perhaps even dumb in love teenage brain. There’s a million things you could choose to pick apart about yourself or your life, to feel jealous of your friends or peers, but try not to. Please be selfish. Please be egotistical. While still acknowledging the economic and political state of the world, the best thing you can do for yourself is to just think about you. Don’t let the happiness of your accomplishments, enthusiasm, and love for life be stripped by others or by toxic self comparison. Appreciate every little joy that you come across in life, both earned and entitled, with grace and gratitude. Life is good, don’t go too hard trying to convince yourself it isn’t.
