This article has gone through several drafts. Even now, I do not know how best to articulate my feelings towards the ever-present exhaustion I feel, regardless of whether I am on break or in the middle of the school week. It’s not like I’m against breaks – far from it…
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Self-Exploration: Navigating the Personal Shift from AFAB to Nonbinary
Going from assigned female at birth (AFAB) to nonbinary is, in my experience, a somewhat quiet transition. This is impacted by positions of complicated privilege. For example, clothing. I grew up in private schools, wherein I wore uniforms and swam competitively when I wasn’t in school. The clothes I wore…
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Self-Exploration: The Lazy-Hardworking Dichotomy
As William Jewell College focuses on re-branding itself, the notion of what comprises a good student undergoes an intellectually trendy articulation. “We” – the good college student(s) – are hardworking, thoughtful, innovative, intelligent. It’s not wrong, of course. But it’s not completely accurate, and just-exiting-high-school me never saw what Jewell…
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Self-Exploration: Coming out
In honor of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, I want to discuss the complexities surrounding the concept of coming out. Honestly, it’s an action predicated on society’s assumption that we are all straight, cisgender people. It is a series of moments in which a nonconforming person does two…
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Self-Exploration: Embracing femininity
Once I decided my gender needed further observation, it became necessary to examine other female terms I previously embraced. I knew, and know, that everyone relates to their gender differently. I also knew, though, that I felt discomfort with some situations wherein I was identified as a woman. So, I…
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Opinion: I now pronoun-ce me nonbinary
Among close friends, I’ve been going by they/them pronouns for about a year. I knew I wanted to keep it amongst the three of us because, as far as I’ve known, I’m nonbinary. There are more terms that nuance personal gender experiences. The best I can describe my current gender…
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