The first time I saw two women kiss, I was seven years old. It wasn't a passionate, tongue-filled kiss, but a simple, going-about-your-day peck. I was shocked to say the least. I had never been told it was wrong to kiss a girl, but I was never told it was okay either. In the 90s and early 2000s, there wasn't a lot of representation for the LGBTQ+ community, so I had never been exposed to that possibility. I immediately asked my mother, "Is it okay if I kiss a girl?" She shot back, "You can't kiss anyone until you're 18." I of course giggled, but she still hadn't answered my question and I was left with a lot of confusion, and a longing to kiss another girl. Flash forward seventeen years, and now the five year old I care for asks me, "Can girls kiss girls?" I stop in my tracks because this conversation reminds me of a confusion I felt once, too. I wanted her to fell acceptance instead, so I responded, "When you grow up, you can kiss whoever you love, as long as they want to kiss you, too." Of course, conversations with kids never end that easily! She replied, "Well, do a lot of girls kiss girls?" At this point, I'm wondering if this is a conversation she should be having with her parents, but I say, "I think we may not see them all the time, but there are a lot of women who marry and love other women. Same thing with boys, too." I could see the wheels turning inside of her mind. Up to this point she had understood that most people get to choose who they love and marry, however she hadn't fully grasped that there could be same-sex relationships. Throughout the whole day, I tried to give her a kid-friendly version of what the LGBTQ+ community encompasses. Which to me the community represents freedom, equality, and compassion. She loved learning about the different flags the community has. Unfortunately, I also had to make it clear that this is a targeted community. "Why do some people think it's not okay?" my five year old asked. I had to fight hard to find an answer to give her until finally I came up with, "Honestly, I don't know why some people feel that way. But I do know that it is important to make everyone feel welcome. We want to help people feel good, not feel sad. Do you agree?" She immediately responded, "Of course I agree! I don't want anyone to make my friends or me feel sad." Her response warmed my heart, and I said, "Yup, we want to make sure we do something if we hear someone being mean, like telling a teacher." We continued to chat about the topic until it was time for me to go, and then she even continued the topic with her parents! I felt thankful for the opportunity to have the conversation I wish my mother would've had with me. All throughout that day, I felt that I was healing something within myself. Although we weren't able to get to every LGBTQ+ topic, but we got the conversation started. I am hoping it gives her the confidence to continue having these conversations, that the world desperately needs in order to move towards equality for all.

As a child of immigrants, growing up wasn't easy. For legal reasons, my parents couldn't always hold a job. My mother always worried if our family would have enough money to pay the rent, the electricity and water bills, or even have food on the table. But, my father always remained hopeful, even in the worst times. He would take my hand, look me in the eyes, and say, "Your mind is your most powerful tool, you must feed it positivity in order to attract positivity." My mother would roll her eyes, but every month he managed to pay the rent and provide for us. His saying has helped me battle my toughest times. It has made me realize that optimism isn't limited to a certain group of people. An optimistic person focuses on the good that can happen instead of the negative. It's easier said than done because fear is a powerful feeling that can consume us, but we all have the choice to remain positive and hopeful. I have witnessed how hope can change a life. My mother in law was diagnosed with cancer in May 2020 which led her to stop working. She saw her situation as a loss, but I helped her realize it allowed her time to connect and grow, which she didn't have before. She absorbed every ounce of positivity around her and used it to fuel her in her battle with cancer, and in the end, she was victorious. Overall, my favorite aspect about hope and optimism is that they don't cost a thing.

1. I'm special. 2. I want to use my academic degree as a paperweight. 3. Answering these questions.

The act of listening is an act of love. Sitting and simply listening can be hard because engaging and contributing in conversations is enjoyable. However, people don't always need advice or a pep talk. Sometimes the best thing one can do is sit quietly and let the other person get their feelings, worries, and opinions off of their chest. I actively listen to those around me by staying focused on who is speaking. Looking the person in the eyes or reading their lips helps me make sure I am focused on their issue. Sometimes, I repeat pieces of information back to the speaker to reassure them I am paying attention. Occasionally, hearing what one's said repeated from the listener, can help one see it in a new light. Even though I may want to chime in about a similar experience I've had, I remind myself they have trusted me to make them the focus. Being a good listener is not something that one is born with, one must practice and have patience. To me, listening means being selfless and donating my time to help others feel important.