The term "unique" is used to describe an individual's standing out from others in a positive manner. Growing up, I started to notice differences in myself compared to the ones around me, and I told myself it was just traits of uniqueness. But as I got older, I grew to conclude that was not the case. I felt disjointed, not unique. The troubles I faced were not the ones of my friends or family. I dishearteningly discovered I could not express myself to the people closest to me, as they would not understand, but look at me sideways instead. That's when I turned to writing. Being able to openly convey myself without the feeling of it being held against me felt like freedom. The restraints I had on who I was seemed to become invisible as I could finally feel a part of something. In middle school, I remember my classmates, typically boys, would use the word "gay" as an insult. In high school now, and only one change has been made which is the use of slurs. I hear the ones closest to me discussing how gross or weird it is that people can romantically view the same sex. To describe the way I feel in these situations is near impossible; it's like having someone read over an article you wrote, and they openly trash it right in front of you without knowing that it is yours. Would they change their opinion if they found out? How would they react if they knew every single letter on that page came from your hand, and every single space, period, and comma was all you? This is something I struggle with every day. I almost feel guilty for hiding the way I truly am, but what more of an option do I have? Writing. Writing is the other option I have. Describing this feeling as anything other than free would be a crime. It is a state of nonjudgment and openness. As I sit here typing out my feelings, my mother across from me is clueless. She has no idea about the way I feel. Fore if she did my struggles would only worsen. With writing, I can say a thousand words without speaking a single one and that is so special to me. I CAN talk about my problems and I CAN express myself and I CAN eleborate about the way I feel. Writing is a passage for me to take when I want to have an escape from my hardships. Pursuing writing is something I feel very strongly about since writing is something I feel so deeply for.