Those Lesbians....

It’s been a hectic day. I woke up, wrote a paper, went to campus, turned it in, got a haircut, swam 800 meters at the Rec, and now I’m in Phoenix. Whoa. My little brother will graduate from Marine Corps Boot Camp on Friday, and I couldn’t be prouder. I am so happy about the man that he has become and I am stoked about seeing him tomorrow. I’ll be in San Diego later tonight, and honestly, I am ready to hit the sack.

I had a really interesting conversation with a girl on the bus today when I was on my way home. I feel like it’s worth mentioning and reflecting about because so many people have a perception on Texas A&M and College Station, Texas. My experience in one sentence: I left high school voting Republican and considering myself conservative, and four years later I would say I am very liberal. Outsiders will tell you that that’s what happens when you go to college, but Texas A&M? Who would have thought?

Anyway, about this girl. She sat across from me on the bus. I didn’t get her name, but she had glasses, long black hair, tan skin, and informed me that it was her first year at A&M.

Assumption 1: she is Hispanic.

She had a rainbow umbrella, rainbow shoelaces, and a rainbow button on her backpack. I looked at her and smiled. I asked her if she was an activist. She was astonished that I was talking to her.

Assumption 2: She has never talked to a Corps guy before

Assumption 3: She is generally shy when meeting new people.

She replied that she wasn’t an activist but was proud of who she was. I smiled and said that I thought that was great. I asked her if she had watched President Obama’s speech at the Human Rights Campaign opening gala. She said that she didn’t own a TV, so she had not watched it. I talked a little about it and gave my opinion. The speech was great. It’s a step in the right direction for Human Rights activists, even though I feel like it’s taken a long time to get rid of, what I feel is, a primitive policy. She asked me why I thought people were so against this aspect equality, and my response was that people have a religious base for most of their arguments. She laughed and informed me she was Agnostic. I told her everyone is entitled to their own opinion and in my opinion, the important thing about life is to believe in something, whether it is a higher being, in yourself, in something that motivates you, etc. She looked at me and informed me she doesn’t believe in anything not even herself. I was immediately saddened to hear this. I questioned her more about herself, about why she came to A&M, about her major, and other things. I told her a little bit about myself, the Corps, and what I was doing for the rest of the semester. Then she asked me, “Are you a straight ally?” I thought about it and told her “no.” Then I said, “I’m in the same boat you are.” She smiled and lifted her fist for me to pound. I laughed and looked at the girl sitting a few seats next to us. She knew what we were talking about, and for the first time in my life I did not care. At this point, is it something I want to continue to hide from everyone? My best friends know, and to me, that is what matters.

Like Dr. Seuss said: “Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

I feel like I have experienced some personal growth today and it makes me happy. To the girl on the bus, I enjoyed our conversation and I am glad that you can be yourself. You’ve inspired me to be more comfortable with the person that God made me.