![\"\"](\"http:\/\/howlheritage.com\/zenphoto\/albums\/2012-09-25-howl-staff-portraits\/howl_staff_2012-jeremy.jpg\" "\\"Jeremy")
I first started thinking about my sexual orientation on a field trip in middle school. We were going swimming. I saw my friend changing clothes and realized I was looking at them differently. That was the first time I really started thinking about my feelings.<\/p>\n
I was really nervous and scared. I didn\u2019t know what I felt and didn\u2019t know what my feelings meant. I grappled with it for months, which turned to years…eventually arriving at where I am today:\u00a0 A proud gay man.
\nAt first it was hard to tell people.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t say it out loud\u2013it had to be by email or by note.
\nI was scared people wouldn\u2019t accept me. One day I was talking to my friend and he asked me straight out: \u201cAre you gay?\u201d
\nI got this blank scare\u2014I\u2019m sure he could see I was freaking out inside.
\nBut he said, \u201cIt\u2019s okay if you are.\u201d
\n\u201cYes,\u201d I admitted.
\nAfter that, I realized I had nothing to hide. I had to be proud.
\nI did have one major problem in middle school\u2014a kid did say mean things to me and made me cry.\u00a0 A friend saw I needed help, and dragged me to the counselor\u2019s office. I\u2019m glad she did.
\nThey called in the name-caller, and I had no other issues from him.
\nI just needed a friend. I needed to know that I wasn\u2019t alone, that someone out there cared\u2014even when I thought no one else did. That friend that dragged me to the counselor\u2019s office showed me that it\u2019s okay to need help\u2014and honestly saved my life and sanity.<\/p>\n
I still couldn\u2019t tell anybody new tell sophomore year. I had trouble owning up to it until people told me it was okay that I was gay. Eventually, I could just say the words: \u201cYes. I\u2019m gay.\u201d
\nBut I know it\u2019s hard to go to this point, and may take people longer than me.<\/p>\n
The main thing I want people to get out of this is be who you are don\u2019t worry about what your friends will say. If they don\u2019t accept you they really weren\u2019t your friend and won\u2019t be around\u00a0 much longer, regardless.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re not alone.
\nIf you\u2019re going through this and you can always contact me if you ever need help.
\nSometimes you just need someone to talk to.
\nIt gets better.
\nI am sure you have heard that so much\u2014but it\u2019s so true, so bears repeating.<\/p>\n