In a world so focused on the “normal” and putting labels on everything, it’s extremely difficult to be yourself without the fear of judgment. For as long as I can remember, I knew something was different about me, but I never wanted to come to terms with it.

It wasn’t until September of 2015 that I gained enough courage to face my fear and reveal to my family and friends that I am gay.

This is when I started to feel like my world came crashing down; it is also when I found the strength and perseverance to overcome the obstacles that I had struggled with.

Throughout what felt like the never ending process of "coming out," I learned how to beat society’s judgements, norms, and perceptions. Society puts labels on people, and I have learned to break through those to just be myself. I’ve learned you don’t always have to meet other people’s expectations, but you should always exceed your own.

I don’t have a great coming out story. Coming out stories aren’t meant to all be the same. Everyone struggles with having to have the "perfect" story when in reality, that never happens. I solely “came out” because of a toxic relationship that made me realize I needed to get help and advice to deal with my own thoughts.

Sometimes I think of the long nights and days that I sat alone with my own thoughts, completely terrified to tell my mom, dad, family members, my friends, my field hockey team and society. I can only describe this fear as being completely alone in a crowded room. The best thing I ever did was become my own best friend, love myself first, and decide to face my fears and let the world know who I am. Fear should never hold a person back from living the life they love to live. It was then that I made a promise to myself that no fear would ever come between me and the dreams I’d like to pursue.

Now that I am finally comfortable with who I am as a person and with my sexuality, I feel that nothing in this life is impossible anymore.

I’ve learned how to become independent with my thoughts, stand up for what I believe in, and break barriers that I never expected to break. This in itself has taught me who I am and what I can achieve.

What scared me the most was the possibility that people would only see me for my sexuality, because that is the only way I could see myself prior to coming out. What I forgot, and hope I never forget again, is that I am so much more than who I am predestined to love. I am thankful for being “different” because I get to see the world in a way others cannot. I can identify with those that need support when coming to terms with who they are.that I feel need support.; I want to be the help those that need it. Instead of resenting the way others saw me after coming out, I plan to show the world who Kayla Brooks is and what she can do.