Transitioning at the age of 11, i was able to get on hormone blockers before i hit puberty. Over the summer before middle school started, I had switched schools and purchased a whole new girly wardrobe. I was hoping and praying for a seamless transition so that I could pass amongst my peers. And to my surprise, I did. From 7th-12th grade, I continued to live my life as an average teenage, suburban girl. No one questioned me. I never told anyone either. Why would I? The only thing that never felt normal for me though, was dating. All of my friends had boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. Yet I rejected everyone in the fear that they would reject/out me. So I didn’t date. Not until I turned 18. I thought with dating apps it would be easier to find someone who would except me. And it made people find me easier. But not in the way I wanted. My first date with a guy, I was drugged and sexually assaulted. I didn’t know how to feel. I kinda just thought that’s how it’s going to be for me. Ever since, i’ve found intimacy very terrifying. Yet, any date i’ve been on since, has always made me feel like some sort of “experiment”. Or they were oblivious to read my profile and once I told them, they completely shift gears. As if I haven’t spent the half of my adolescence as a girl. This past year, I have found it very difficult in finding a romantic connection. I’m left with people blocking, unmatching, harassing, and threatening me. I really don’t understand how people can put me on this pedestal and tell me how amazing, beautiful, thoughtful, etc. I am, and then immediately never speak to me again after they find out what is between my legs? Part of me wishes I could live a normal life. Yet another part is telling me to spread my word. I know that I was put onto this earth, to be transgender, and to uplift the world. And that is why i’m still here today. Hi, my name is Joey, and I'm a 20-year-old transgender woman currently enrolled as a student at GCU. I'm studying social media, graphic design, and marketing. I hope to expand my education in fashion and design at FIT after completing my bachelor’s! I currently work for american eagle and their influencer program! i basically create UGC for them!! I hope to either create a name for myself or manage and operate a fashion business’s social media accounts. I hope to make an impact by inspiring other transgender individuals to know that there is hope out there for them no matter how hard the struggle may seem. I also want to create uplifting content for transgender individuals as well, in an effort to more effectively and accurately inform people transgender rights!

Hi, my name is Joey, and I'm a 20-year-old transgender woman currently enrolled as a student at GCU. I'm studying social media, graphic design, and marketing. Fields that have and continued to inspire me. School has become the cornerstone of my life, offering me not just education but also a sense of purpose and joy. It's through my studies that I feel myself growing as a person, exploring new avenues of creativity and knowledge. Being transgender has presented its challenges, especially in forming genuine connections with others, whether in love, friendship or even my own family. Since coming out once at the age of 2, then again at age 11, my family has found it hard in excepting me. With my biggest ally, my father, passing just 2 years after transitioning. My mother went delirious and turned to alcohol. I raised my 2 brothers on their own until my mother moved, for the second time in a year, with a registered sex offender. Sacred for my brothers, I asked to keep them in the care of me, but my mother refused and left me in an abandoned home while I was at work. At the age of 16. Using the money from my dad’s life insurance, I payed the rent in that house until the lease ended. Not wanting to live under the roof of that man, I slept in my car, and friends houses until my school found out and called my mother. I moved back in on the contrary that my mom would take all of my dad’s life insurance that was billed to me. This journey has been both daunting and empowering. Despite these challenges, my determination to excel academically remains unwavering. I graduated with honors and a 4.0 GPA. Education has been my sanctuary, providing me with the tools to navigate through life's complexities and to embrace my identity with confidence. I am actively seeking a scholarship to support my educational journey, as it represents not just financial assistance but also recognition of my potential and dedication. With this support, I am eager to continue expanding my horizons and contributing positively to my community. School isn't just a means to an end for me. It's a transformative experience that fuels my aspirations and my hope for a brighter future. Being transgender has presented its challenges, especially in forming genuine connections with others, whether in love, friendship or even my own family. The journey of self-discovery and acceptance has been both daunting and empowering. Despite these challenges, my determination to excel academically remains unwavering. Education has been my sanctuary, providing me with the tools to navigate through life's complexities and to embrace my identity with confidence. I am actively seeking a scholarship to support my educational journey, as it represents not just financial assistance but also recognition of my potential and dedication. With this support, I am eager to continue expanding my horizons and contributing positively to my community. School isn't just a means to an end for me. It's a transformative experience that fuels my aspirations and my hope for a brighter future.