The starting point for my research project (linked here) was This Is How It Always Is, and it was there that I was first exposed to, and learned about, what it’s like to be transgender. I think just learning about what kind of violence people committed when they found out someone was trans was hugely influential in my thought process. (Yes, I had heard about it on the news before, but I never thought about it too much.) Another thing I learned that I never really considered is that not all trans people undergo some kind of surgery; there are a lot of other options, including hormone blockers, estrogen/testosterone pills, and simply accepting their own body and dressing how they want.
I don’t necessarily hope that everyone learns the same things I learned while doing my research (although that would be nice). I just hope that they can walk away from my project having learned one new thing about being transgender that helps them be more accepting or caring. If someone already is a strong supporter, then I hope this project can provide another positive perspective; if someone is on the fence or is against trans people, then I hope this project can push them one step in the right direction.
On a broader scale, projects like these are what allowed me to learn about the importance of diversity in the community. Although I like people that are like me, have similar thought processes, it’s important to be exposed to diverse perspectives—otherwise, how can you be so sure you’re right, or you have the best solution, or understand other people?
On an individual level, I learned what I was good at and what I liked to do. I entered high school thinking I would do math when I grew up; I now know that I like much more than just math, including physics and programming. I learned that I’ll eat just about anything and like it, that I can’t run on my own, but I have no problem running on the basketball court, and the list goes on.
Future seniors, if you’re reading this, the first thing I would say is start your college apps early! (Preferably in the beginning of the summer.) If you finish early, then that’s better than not finishing in time. Plus, they take a long time to get right, no matter how many schools you apply to, and that’s where you’re going for the next 4 years—unless you’re not. That’s something else people don’t realize, which is that there are a lot of other options besides college. I’m not saying you should or shouldn’t go to college, but you should look into other options like vocational schools and the armed forces (I know people who had their college paid for by the ROTC). Finally, make your senior year memorable, and in a good way—make it count. After all, you’ll only ever have one high school senior year.
Hey Geoffrey, I also read the book This Is How It Always Is, so I enjoyed reading your interpretation of it and looking at your final voices project. Your website was put together so nicely, and I liked how you included the experiences of so many different people that are transgender. Even though they struggle with some of the same things, each one of them has their own unique story. Also, I wish I listened to the advice of starting early on college applications. I procrastinated so much on them and then was scrambling to finish them by the November 1st deadline. I really enjoyed being in the same class as you this semester! Good luck on all of your future endeavors.
Hey Wu!
I suppose this is the reality of life: as we get older, as we learn more, we find out that the things that we have done were not at all the things we might have wanted to do had we known better, which inevitably, and disappointingly, we never will. To some extent, this applies to learning about issues such as those of transgender or otherwise in LGBTQ; having no experience in understanding the struggles of these individuals makes it so that we may inadvertently appear adverse.
And to that point, your presentation did a wonderful job at emphasizing with and showcasing those who are transgender in a way that, even if I had read the same book as you, I did not quite capture. I read a lot about how gender neutrality (not the complete absence of gender norms, but the essence of removing “transgender” from transgender men or women) is the ultimate solution to the problems the LGBTQ face at large; yet you suggest empathy and compassion, which is a very human, and frankly, realistic solution.
Well done, and congrats on an incredible year.
Oh… and programming > math any day.
Hey Geoffrey,
I thought your research question was really unique since you looked a voice that was much less common among the people in our class. I found it really interesting to read about your research, especially since it seems like we are coming from similar starting places on our understanding on the voice you studied. I think your advice is really sound. Personally, I started my college apps a little late, and I definitely regret it. It made me super stressed in the weeks leading up to the deadline and I wasn’t able to apply to a lot of the colleges I wanted to ea like I initially planned.