Being born to a religious household in the rural areas of Cuba I was always taught that love was between a man and a woman, or in their terms: a hen and a rooster, a cow and a bull, and nothing more. Moreover, the isolation from big cities with diversity also limited any real exposure to the LGBTQ+ community. That is why, when I, as a boy felt more inclined to talk to and make closer friends with girls over guys; I felt weird as if something was wrong with me. This feeling was something I carried throughout the entirety of my childhood, the feeling that I was different. After moving to the US, I did get more exposure to aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, but I was still confused as to who I was. I felt agony and frustration before I went to sleep and asked myself why did I feel the way I did when I spoke with a boy that I particularly liked, or why did I not feel the same way towards a girl who liked me, all these confusing thoughts made me feel as if didn't deserve love or as if I should be punished for feeling something I could not control and was against my religion. As time went on and I managed to make sense of my feelings I was afraid to come out to my family, luckily, I had wonderful friends who gave me unconditional love and support and made sure to be there whenever I needed them. Moreover, TV also had a big role in allowing me to actually come up with the words and ideas in which I could tell my parents about who I was and even what reactions to expect. Although a little different than how it would go on TV, when I did manage to come out, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Even though it was rough at first, eventually my parents and the entire family have come around and even when we hit rough patches again, I continue to have supportive friends and TV shows to console me. These experiences have led me to want to make a change in the world. The difference I would like to implement, considering I want to be an educator, whether it be as a teacher, administrator, or professor, is that I want to make sure to create spaces that are open-minded and inclusive for all. Including in the state of Florida where we are facing government acts such as the "Don't Say Gay" Bill. I want to be the friend who supports a child who may be feeling "off" or "strange" and I also want to be someone who listens and consoles when a student needs to be heard. Furthermore, I want to teach kids the meaning and the power inclusivity can have not only in society but in their personal lives as well. I wish to create a place in which no one should feel different for simply being who they are and feeling what they feel. I wish to create a space that welcomes the diversity and inclusion of all.

Being born to a religious household in the rural areas of Cuba I was always taught that love was between a man and a woman, or in their terms: a hen and a rooster, a cow and a bull, and nothing more. Moreover, the isolation from big cities with diversity also limited any real exposure to the LGBTQ+ community. That is why, when I, as a boy felt more inclined to talk to and make closer friends with girls over guys; I felt weird as if something was wrong with me. This feeling was something I carried throughout the entirety of my childhood, the feeling that I was different. After moving to the US, I did get more exposure into aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, but I was still confused as to who I was. I felt agony and frustration before I went to sleep and asking myself why did I feel the way I did when I spoke with a boy that I particularly liked, or why did I not feel the same way towards a girl who liked me, all these confusing thoughts made me feel as if didn't deserve love or as if I should be punished for feeling something I could not control and was against my religion. As time went on and I managed to make sense of my feelings I was afraid to come out to my family, luckily, I had wonderful friends who gave me unconditional love and support and made sure to be there whenever I needed them. Moreover, TV also had a big role in allowing me to actually come up with the words and ideas in which I could tell my parents about who I was and even what reactions to expect. Although a little different than how it would go on TV, when I did manage to come out, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Even though it was rough at first, eventually my parents and the entire family have come around and even when we hit rough patches again, I continue to have supportive friends and TV shows to console me. As for the difference I plan to make, considering I want to be an educator, I want to make sure to create spaces that are open-minded and inclusive for all. I want to be the friend who supports a child who may be feeling "off" or "strange" and I also want to be someone who listens and consoles when a student needs to be heard. I wish to create a place in which no one should feel different for simply being who they are and feeling what they feel. I wish to create a space that welcomes the diversity and inclusion of all.

"Who or what is my everything?" Such a simple sounding question that should be fairly easy to answer, yet it seems to rack my brain just as I myself have done for my entire life wondering; what is it that drives me? What do I want to do in life? And who am I doing it for? Although a seemingly simple question with a straightforward answer, it becomes so difficult for many including myself to answer. The fact being, we may not have an everything, we may not be artistically gifted or be athletically inclined. We may love our families and want nothing but to help them as they have helped you, just as we may adore our friends and want nothing but to see them succeed, this however still does not mean they are my everything nor are they sole reason I do what I do. So what is my everything you may ask. To be frank, I did not know the answer myself until just recently I realized, I am and must be my own everything. As conceited as that may sound I assure you there is no egotistical thought in mind. Being my own everything means doing things for me, there is no reason I should devote myself to a specific person or thing because in the end circumstances change that everything may not be all I thought it would. That is not to say a person should not have goals or dreams in life they want to achieve, nor people who they care for deeply, it means that they should care for themselves as well and focus on their own happiness just as much as they focus on the happiness of others. I say this because I used to be one of those people who focused on the happiness of others over myself and dove too deep into things. I later came to see that my own health, my passions, and drives didn't have to stem from anyone thing or person but they should come from within myself. So, in short, the answer to that very complex question, is "I am my own everything." In the link I attached is the song "Can't Hold Me" by Emily King. Possibly one of my favorite songs as it presents a message of finding love, care, purpose, and drive within oneself. Or in her words, only she can hold herself.

Being born to a religious household in the rural areas of Cuba I was always taught that love was between a man and a woman, or in their terms: a hen and a rooster, a cow and a bull, and nothing more. Moreover, the isolation from big cities with diversity also limited any real exposure to the LGBTQ+ community. That is why, when I, as a boy felt more inclined to talk to and make closer friends with girls over guys; I felt weird, as if something was wrong with me. This feeling was something I carried throughout the entirety of my childhood, the feeling that I was different. After moving to the US, I did get more exposure into aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, but I was still confused as to who I was. I felt agony and frustration before I went to sleep and asking myself why did I feel the way I did when I spoke with a boy that I particularly liked, or why did I not feel the same way towards a girl who liked me, all these confusing thoughts made me feel as if didn't deserve love or as if I should be punished for feeling something I could not control and was against my religion. As time went on and I managed to make sense of my feelings I was afraid to come out to my family, luckily, I had wonderful friends who gave me unconditional love and support and made sure to be there whenever I needed to them. Moreover, TV also had a big role in allowing me to actually come up with the words and ideas in which I could tell my parents about who I was and even what reactions to expect. Although, a little different than how it would go on TV, when I did manage to come out, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Even though it was rough at first, eventually my parents and entire family have come around and even when we hit rough patches again, I continue to have supportive friends and and TV shows to console me. As for the difference I plan to make, considering I want to be an educator, I want to make sure to create spaces that are open minded and inclusive for all. I want to be the friend who supports a child who may be feeling "off" or "strange" and I also want to be someone who listens and consoles when a student needs to be heard. I wish to create a place in which no one should feel different for simply bein who they are and feelin what they feel. I wish to create a space who welcomes diversity and inclusion of all.

Self-love and care is something that has always eluded me. I feel as though I have been living most of my life to appease everyone but myself, that is why songs such as "Can't Hold Me" by Emily King inspire me so much. I interpreted this song to be about someone wanting to be themselves and doing what they want without anyone holding them back. The songs in my playlist are all about self-love and living life for oneself without being worried about outside approval whether it's about wanting to never let anyone down or being with people you love.