School for me is scary.
Um, it's not fun. I dread going to school every morning and being in a classroom full of people
who do not share the same interests and values that I do.
It's scary because I don't know how people are going to perceive me when I dress a certain way or,
if I present myself a certain way to different people.
School is hard, but it will prevail.
I have faith in that.
We have had students throw food at us and just--we've had students who were on the football team
quit the football team because of bullying and harassment.
We've had, um, a problem with our Day of Silence because there was basically
some people who decided that it was right to deface our posters and yell at people
who were participating in the Day of Silence.
I was involved in, uh, freshman orientation and I was actually one of the head ambassadors out of 150 students.
[Sniffles] I got my privileges revoked because some--parent of one of the kids that was in my group
called the school and complained that I was their leader and that I was not fit to be a student leader.
So it's just really hard.
I got involved with GLSEN because I felt that the message they has is really positive.
And I want to help spread it around.
I started my Gay-Straight Alliance because I felt that students needed
to be aware that there were LGBT students
and to, um, to provide support for any LGBT student that might have needed it.
We've come a long way in regards to gay rights and equality
but I feel like there's still so much more that we can do, and I think our generation can accomplish a lot of that.
Someday, a kid like me, will not go unnoticed per se, 
but will be able to go through their school district and go through their lives without being nitpicked
or bullied.
There's no reason for you to ever be told that you can't do something.
And you just keep pushing, and pushing, and pushing until it happens because it has to happen and it will.
Thank you GLSEN supporters for helping GSAs all over the country.
Thank you GLSEN supporters for all the work you've done for LGBT youth.
Because of all your work, I am able to feel safe and happy.
Thank you for supporting GLSEN.
Thank you GLSEN supporters for giving me an opportunity to speak my mind and create a voice for myself and itself.
To create a better future.
[Piano music plays]
