I am a gender non-conforming adult. People would describe me as a woman who looks very much like a man. I have always been gender non-conforming ever since I was little. Sadly, I did not have a successful school career because of the way I was treated. I was not able to graduate high school due to low attendance. I was bullied by other students, and the administrators and teachers in my school did nothing in my defense. I was prevented from using the bathroom at my school because of my appearance. There were many times when I feared for my safety, and knew that the adults at the school didn’t have my best interest in mind. It saddens me greatly to think about the opportunities I have missed because of the gap in my education. I was not able to attend college. When I think of kids today, I hope they have an easier path than I did. I want them to be supported and defended, and I want them to be given access to education and opportunities no matter what they look like or identify as. Not understanding someone else, or disagreeing with them politically, is never an excuse to mistreat them. We can’t force kids to suffer because some grown adults think that they don’t matter. Every child deserves the right to safety, health, and an education. We cannot allow kids to be discriminated against for being their authentic selves.