I BELIEVE

            I believe in a world that will one day live in harmony.  I believe in my family and friends and the relationships were share together.  I believe in working hard for future opportunity.  I believe in helping people so that in turn, one day they can help me.  I believe in good and evil, God and the devil and life after death.  I believe in love at first sight and that hopeless romantics might have it right.  I believe in miracles and it’s the only thing that helps me sleep at night.  I believe that the stars at night are more mysterious than scientists think; they’re always trying to prove it all.  I believe in myself, that any obstacle I have can be overcome.  I believe in my teachers and professors that their work is preparing me and inspiring me to carry on.  I believe in my mentors, that they will guide me to a bright future.  I believe that in every life experience that there is a lesson to be learned.  I believe in values and morals, bravery and honor, sacrifice and devotion.  But most importantly, I believe in you, that you can change the world and prove that all of my beliefs are not in vain.    

HOW TO BE COURAGEOUS

            Courage is not just firefighters, police officers and soldiers.  Courage does not mean coming face to face with physical danger every day for the rest of your life.  And most certainly courage is not limited to a selected number of people in society based off of race, gender or creed.  Courage can come in various doses.  Sometimes courage is so great that a person can walk into active combat to save a fellow soldier’s life, but it can also be as small as saying that you will try again when you fail a test.  None the less courage is still present and it is a mark of a person’s character.

            Everyone seems to think that courage roars like a lion, but no, it can be the small voice inside your head that says that you can try again tomorrow.  For all of you people out there that think that you need courage, chances are that you already have it because you are still here.  You never cease to move forward because you are intrepid.  Never run away from your fears though, because they are not meant to dictate your life.  If people ever ask you why you continue to confront your fears, look them straight in the eye and tell them it is because fears will not define you because you won’t let them.  A person once said “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather knowing that there is something greater than fear.”  That “something” is life.  So be courageous and don’t let fears direct your life.  Never stop confronting them because you are bold and brave.  Don’t be a kite anchored by the hands of another on a windy day.  Your purpose is to fly, so break loose and do just that.  Live your purpose and soar high through life.

           

FOUR WORDS I FOLLOW

            There have been four words that I have always tried to live by: Live, Laugh, Learn and Love.  I believe that these actions are almost like a recipe.  You need just the right amount to be in a perfect equilibrium.  However, too much of one or too little of another can lead to problems.  Living is not just the action of being alive, but experiencing life.  Yes, it may sound strange but let me give you a few examples of what living is to me.  Living is driving late at night to see the world with your friends, it’s volunteering to teach others how to save lives, it’s doing something crazy like putting your head in a Jell-O mold at a Blue Man Group show and it’s seeing the world from the top of a mountain.  Life is about taking risk and finding the world, not being a passive observer. 

            Laughing releases the daily stresses of the world.  It allows us to extract humor from life and express it.  Laughing means that all of our worries have melted away and that sorrow has fled from us.  Laughter is the true measure of happiness.  I don’t think that I would ever be able to go a single day without laughing no matter how bad of a mood I am in.  It is extremely necessary to extract joy from life because sometimes our most trying times are the ones that we look back upon with lightheartedness.

            Learning is not just going to classes or getting a college degree; it is about how you interpret your experiences in living.  There are so many different ways to learn and my favorite is through talking to people.  There is so much to be learned from people of different backgrounds whether it is race, gender, sexual preference, economic status, interests and so many more.  These people have gained so much knowledge from their own lives, and when you talk to one another, all of your thoughts and ideas merge together; and that is true knowledge.  The ability to understanding another human being is one of the most important skills that one could learn in life.

            Loving is all about sharing emotion; it is about telling someone how important they are to you, the difference they have made on your life and showing how much you care for them.  Never live your life in hate because it is so much easier to love everyone, it will not only make you happy, but others as well.  Never go to bed angry at a person you love because who knows what could happen to them tomorrow…Let them know that you love them today.  So here’s my recipe: Live as if you’ll never see tomorrow, Laugh as long as you can before your gut bursts, Learn what life is all about through others and Love as if you’ll never be with that person again, and 50 years from now you will regret nothing!

A WORLD THROUGH MY EYES

            If you could see the world through my eyes, you wouldn’t see color.  Not because I’m color blind, but I don’t see races, I see people.  I have no concept of money, not because I’m ignorant but because I believe that work is paid off in the enjoyment that you receive from it.  I don’t see brands you wear or the people you associate with.  All I see is you. 

            I see a world that isn’t perfect, but I hope that one day I can.  I can see the disaster, the pain and the chaos on this planet.  I know why people are hurt and suffer, yet I only look at that to find the solution.  I can see the good in people but I can also see the evil.  I know your intentions but I try to focus on the good ones.  I try to look beyond your past and envision you in the future.  I can see that you will be great someday.  My eyes always show me the direction to happiness.

            I don’t see that today is another day, but rather an opportunity.  I watch for every bump in the road and prepare for when I hit it.  I sometimes gaze at the moon and the stars at night and sit amazed in its beauty just as I did when I was younger.  I look for hope in every part of my life that this world could be as peaceful as the night sky.  But most importantly, I see you, the only other person whose eyes are just like mine and who see the world as I do. 

STEFANI JOANNE ANGELINA GERMANOTTA

            You probably have no idea, whose name this is unless you got the hint from the picture for this blog; however I want to recognize this person for her actions as a human and not her musical achievements.  If you haven’t guessed who I am talking about right now, you either live under a rock or somewhere in the Deep South, but I am talking about Lady Gaga, or Mother Monster as some prefer.  This blog is not about how much I love her music, because quite frankly I have more favorite artists, but rather her ability to stand up for the underdog. 

            I have never seen such a more confident and brave woman.  She fights for what she believes in, not to be popular, but to do what is right for people.  To be honest, when I first saw Lady Gaga, I thought she was an absolute nutcase wearing outfits made of meat, arriving at the Grammy’s in an egg and performing many more eye catching stunts.  It wasn’t until I saw her on TV speaking at a Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal rally in Maine that I actually understood who this “Mother Monster” was.  She spoke with her head up, eye to eye with the audience, she didn’t stutter and she let the government know where she stood on the issue.  I felt so proud of her, as weird as that sounds.  It takes so much bravery to get up in front of people and let all of your emotions flow, but she did it even when her opinions were not the most popular in the minds of many politicians. 

            Her efforts went even further when she made a speech at an March for Equality in Washington, DC.  She spoke this time of equality for all people with a rainbow flag waving freely from her hand.  She even screams in the microphone to make sure that President Obama is listening to her, because her voice should be heard, needs to be heard and will be heard.  Furthermore, she demands that her promises of change be made now because freedom should have no timeframe.  Clearly, Lady Gaga is more than some crazy pop singer, she is a fighter; a reason for hope. 

            She not only gives hope to me, but for all people like me.  She is one of our greatest allies and I thank her for that.  After seeing one of her biggest fans die from suicide caused by bullying based on sexual orientation, Gaga created a campaign called the Born This Way Foundation with a mission to empower youth and inspire bravery.  I can’t think of a better role model than Lady Gaga for inspiring bravery.  She doesn’t care about what people think about her and she doesn’t fear to stand up for the minorities.  This woman is doing amazing things for no other reason than to do what she believes is right.  She truly loves and cares for every single LGBT person, because she understands the struggles that we go through and the need for equality.  Gaga is more than a pop celebrity, she is also a remarkable person.

20 WAYS HOW IT GOT BETTER FOR ME 

1.      I know that everyone loves me for exactly who I am and nothing else.

2.      I have over 650 views on this blog!

3.      I don’t pause or stutter before I say the word gay.

4.      I never lose a night of sleep thinking if people will still love me when they find out I’m gay.

5.      I can talk freely, from personal experience about how we need more equality in politics.

6.      I have received emails from relatives telling me how proud of me they are and how as long as I am happy, that nothing else matters.

7.      I can read a book about Harvey Milk in our student lounge and not fear that people will “discover my secret.”

8.      I no longer care about who knows that I am gay, because everyone who I care the most about already does.

9.      After telling my friends that I am gay, only one thing changed; our relationships became stronger because of honesty.

10.  My mom has the same bravery that I do to tell people that I’m gay

11.  My dad told me that he doesn’t care who I like because he is still proud of me and I’m the best son a father could ever have.

12.  My sister wants to work for LGBTQ advocacy.

13.  People still view my other characteristics and not just the fact that I’m gay.

14.  If someone asks me if I’m gay, I never deny it because I am proud of who I am and where I am going.

15.  I never let my sexuality interfere with pursuing my dreams.

16.  I have seen my friends and family gain a greater tolerance for people that are different.

17.  I have seen that my family really does have unconditional love for me.

18.  I have hope that someday I will marry the man of my dreams and all my family and friends will be there to support me.

19.  I don’t have to stress about making my family proud because I know that I do.

20.  I’M HAPPY WITH WHO I AM!!! And I wouldn’t change it for the world.  I was made this way for a reason, so I should embrace it and live life, accomplish my goals, let my dreams come true and find love, because there is only one life to live and I don’t intend on wasting it.  I just hope that you do the same.

THE AFTERLIFE

            Most cultures and religions have a common belief that there is something beyond death; however the concept of what it exactly entails differs.  Some believe that their bodies will become part of the earth and that their souls will receive either a reward in heaven or a punishment in hell others believe in reincarnation and some believe that our bodies are recycled into nature.  This blog is not meant for you to form an opinion about the afterlife and its existence but rather, how the fate of afterlife is determined in my own view.

            In recent news, a principal of a Tennessee high school told students in an assembly that gay people will go to hell.  It seems absurd to me that a principal, the main advocate for its school’s students, would send such a hateful message to them.  Not to mention that this is a public institution funded by the state which should take no stance on religious issues such as the theory of afterlife.  I find it offensive that someone can assume that gay people will automatically be punished in the afterlife for expressing the way a higher power made them.

               I was raised a Roman Catholic and have received all of my sacraments of initiation.  I even went to Catholic elementary school and junior high, so I am not ignorant on the subject of religion.  Throughout my education, one thing became very clear to me about my faith; we treat everyone with love and respect no matter who they are.  This is a mark of character and what I believe will be the main determinant for the fate of your afterlife.  I don’t believe that there is any loving higher power out there that would create me to have a certain belief, and then punish me for acting upon it.  Instead said higher power would reflect on my experiences helping others, giving back to the community and trying to better the world for future generations.

            I would hope that my God would not make his judgment on me based upon the way he created me.  I took this gift of thinking differently and I am trying to make a positive impact on society.  Through this blog, I try to raise awareness about tolerance and self-acceptance.  I’m not sending a message of hate and disgust that others do to people like me.  I am trying to hopefully leave this world a better place than I was born into.  In my religion, Jesus never once said to hate a specific group of people.  Instead he sent a message of love and acceptance.  He spent his whole life helping the beggars, the prostitutes, the thieves and lepers.  He worked to help the underdog.  There was not a single person on this earth that Jesus predetermined to go to hell.  I believe the same as him.  He was the prophet of my religion who saved us and who gave us the new covenant to treat everyone equally with love.  The afterlife will be determined by your actions on earth to make a positive impact on yourself and others.  So love everyone you meet, treat every person with respect and never stop trying make a difference.  Your actions will be rewarded someday.