Part 3. Well ladies and gentlemen, the final installment regarding my impacts in life from the past 20 years. Without further ado, let us continue the journey.
Style
One of the things that many people notice about me is my style. It isn’t one many would stereotype POC, I’ll tell you that. Lately, I’ve sported clothes that come from stores like hot topic; skinny jeans/pants, band/pop culture tees and even beanies. I permed my hair a few months ago, and even dyed it.
Music is probably another noticing factor in my style. Let’s just say that at one point my music library was 90% hip-hop, rap and R&B. Today, it’s 95% Indie, Rock and Alternative. This goes hand-in-hand with my style; it progressively changed in high school as it does for many other teenagers. I don’t see any end of sight for my preference going away anytime soon. My favorite band? Well, I love all of the artists I listen to but, the one who first started this chain reaction of musical discovery was the Sacramento-based band, Deftones.
If there were to be a category for people to put me in to understand my style, it would be “Alternative Black Kid.” This includes a range of things, such as my rock music being known as “devil worshipper music” or “white people music” by my mom, how my speaking proper English is known as “speaking white” by some peers. So here’s to the other Alternatives out there, who refrain from the societal norms that people assume we must stay in. (There’s a bit of a rebel in me.)
College
Since High School ended on a very rough note, I wanted to start college on a fresh one. I currently go to Trinity Christian College, in the near southwestern Chicago suburb of Palos Heights. So far, going to my small private liberal arts school has been a wise decision. I’m involved in the bands here, I did a couple of theater performances and I even have two jobs. The challenge to balance my extracurricular activities and work with classes and a social life has had it pros and cons, but I made it through in the end.
Perhaps the biggest impact at Trinity so far, are the people that I’ve encountered. Many of these people have become my friends and family. There’s also the guidance and encouragement of the faculty that have helped my experience become a great one. Life at Trinity makes me wonder what kind of changes were to occur if I hadn’t gone there at all.
Coming Out (Sort of)
In the case of my sexuality, I came out as bisexual back in December, 2013. Since then, I've established that I'm simply gay. I haven't bothered to tell many people, because I don't have to. It should not be anyone’s concern as to who you are. The irony is that Trinity is a reformed Christian College, where a great portion of people keep their conservative views regarding that issue. At this point, I have dealt with some homophobia and people questioning why I am what I am, but overall, I believe that you shouldn't act differently because of people being different than you.
In a nut shell, I’m still that funny, shy and quirky individual known as Pierce Cruz that many have always known. I still love scary movies, rock music and much more. I only want to be treated the same as everyone else despite that one fact, because it shouldn’t matter. Hopefully after this, my request is granted by my peers.
Artwork
By now, you might’ve noticed an image beneath some of my impacts. These images are of my own creation. I’ve been drawing since the 4th grade and have since gotten better and better. I am currently a studio art major at school, where I aspire to be a cartoonist, better yet a graphic novelist, in hopes to inevitably make a show that centers on my life, the people I’ve met and how many things have impacted me. I’m not sure at the moment what I’m going to do after college is over, but I know that it’s already planned in God’s hands.
Thanks guys for reading on my impacts from my 20 years of life. Here’s to what the rest of life has to offer.
