<p>The “Gay” Club</p>
<p>Homophobia hath no fury like at [Redacted for Safety] High School. In the comparatively small high school a strange mix of north-eastern wealth and "southern" ideals takes place, despite our obvious placement above the Mason-Dixon Line. Mostly everyone belongs to a church in the township, normally the local Catholic Church or the massive "super church" complex that sits above most of the township. Going to any school day or function without seeing a touch of camouflage gear is impossible. I'm including prom. Hearing all of this I would already expect one to predict the reaction to forming a Gay-Straight Alliance in the hallowed halls of Peters Township. Anything of the negative variety would be correct.</p>
<p>The club came about my sophomore year when I and a group of friends felt the need for a space within the school where everyone could feel safe. However, when meeting after meeting no one showed up we lost sight of why we created the club and discontinued the meetings.</p>
<p>At the start of my junior year I desperately wanted to revive the club, but for all I knew I was the only queer student in the entire school. All of my close friends were living their own lives after leaving for college. Or in the case of my best friend, leaving school because his reality as being out man who is transgender meant receiving death threats shoved into the front pocket of his backpack every day. The halls I walked in every day felt isolating. Every face that I met during the split-second moment of eye contact made in the hall could be one that was supportive. Or they could be the one spitting slurs in my face when they caught me cornered in the hall.</p>
<p>What sparked this was the news of a boy who had come out as bisexual during a speech he gave to his public speaking class. I immediately contacted him. This was a total revelation.</p>
<p>Immediately I put together plans to restart the club. The first meetings were all too empty; I began to worry that I had done this all for nothing. But then ... people started showing. Every meeting there were new faces ready to support the club. One particular meeting there were twice as many people who had ever shown up and I nearly cried. </p>
<p>On April 11, 2014 our group participated in the Day of Silence. Nearly 10 students remained silent for the entire day to symbolize the "silence" of those who are still in the closet or have had their lives cut short. Not only did I grow as a person that day, but everywhere I went people saw me and discussed LGBTQ+ rights like I had never heard before. </p>
<p>My original reasoning for the GSA not being able to survive in the school surrounded how I felt about it. I was so absorbed in myself I never thought that there could be anyone else benefitting from the club. The boy coming out forced me to step outside myself and see that the GSA existing had nothing to do with me. The GSA absolutely needed to exist in such a school as mine to offer a safe space for everyone unafraid to love unconditionally no matter who was on the receiving end. The fact that the GSA exists makes the school more tolerant; as we become more visible the school only becomes safer and more accepting for students. Given the chance, there is not a doubt in my mind that I would have continued with the club. I would have fought harder for the club to stay alive. I would have actively sought out ways to allow the club to flourish. But that's in the past and if I've learned anything from this experience is that the only way you can move is forward. You do that by looking ahead.</p>
<p>Current UW GPA: 3.06
Current Weighted GPA: 3.25
Current SAT: 1640 (taking again in Oct)</p>
<p>AP Courses: AP European History, AP United States History
Honors Courses: Honors English 9-12, Audition Level Choir</p>
<p>International Thespian Society Member, Published by the American Library of Poetry, Freelance Writer at Flurt Magazine</p>
<p>EC/Leadership: President/Founder of the GSA at my school, Co-President of the Literary Magazine, Active Member of the Thespian Troupe/Theatre Program</p>
<p>I'm applying to:</p>
<p>Bryn Mawr (ED)
Cedar Crest
Chatham
Temple
Ohio Weslyean
West Chester
Edinboro</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>