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Being Gay at College
- Thread starter Stringer
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It's been awhile since I was in college myself, but I'm a college professor, so I am around college students a lot. I think you need to "be yourself" whoever that is, but also understand that you are in the midst of finding out who you are. We are all on that journey to some extent, but someone your age is in the thick of it. So, I'd recommend the following:
1. Be open and friendly to everyone you meet, but don't latch on too quickly. Use some discernment.
2. Worry more about being authentic than about being liked. Seek to deal honestly with people as much as you can.
3. Listen to what people are saying and how they are acting with the desire to understand them, even if they do not understand you or reject you. This will make you a better person overall.
4. Turn the other cheek, but learn from your mistakes, rejection, and disappointments. Holding grudges helps no one, but learning to avoid putting your trust in the wrong people helps immensely.
5. New opportunities often come disguised as problems. You can't fix other people, but you can seek to "be the change you want to see."
Good luck as you move into a new year at school. That time goes by quickly, so make the most of it, keeping in mind that SOME choices have long lasting consequences (tattoo anyone?). Reminding yourself of that before you do something may affect your approach to a situation, person, opportunity, or rejection and keep it in perspective.
Mostly, enjoy this time.
1. Be open and friendly to everyone you meet, but don't latch on too quickly. Use some discernment.
2. Worry more about being authentic than about being liked. Seek to deal honestly with people as much as you can.
3. Listen to what people are saying and how they are acting with the desire to understand them, even if they do not understand you or reject you. This will make you a better person overall.
4. Turn the other cheek, but learn from your mistakes, rejection, and disappointments. Holding grudges helps no one, but learning to avoid putting your trust in the wrong people helps immensely.
5. New opportunities often come disguised as problems. You can't fix other people, but you can seek to "be the change you want to see."
Good luck as you move into a new year at school. That time goes by quickly, so make the most of it, keeping in mind that SOME choices have long lasting consequences (tattoo anyone?). Reminding yourself of that before you do something may affect your approach to a situation, person, opportunity, or rejection and keep it in perspective.
Mostly, enjoy this time.
- D_22,
This is the best thing I could second regarding this topic.
College definitely is the place of self discovery and learning things about yourself. It's definitely where I have officially came out. It gradually started in senior year of high school and slowly in my first year or two of college, but I took the full plunge eventually and you learn to not give a fuck. Having the right people around you helps. You won't always be with these people and each semester or year you ended up meeting different folks, but each person you learn something new about yourself and the things around you.
Just chin up, man.
