Want to know why I am so pro-equality? That’s because I’ve seen firsthand in my family and in my career how people perceive those who identify as gay. I’ve seen the discrimination they face because people don’t agree with their love life. I’ve watched people hide behind religion to explain why it’s ok to hate someone based on their sexuality. And boy is that hard for me to swallow as someone who identifies as a Christian. But I truly believe that everyone should be treated equally. I do believe that equal rights aren’t something outrageous to be asking for. I do think that years from now we are going to look back at the fight for gay rights the same way we do the fight for race rights in the 60’s. So I let my beliefs guide how I behave. I fight for equality and stand up for what I believe in because it is so important to me.
Want to know why I’m such a hard worker? Instead of spending the last few months of my enlistment passing my work onto the Sailors who are going to fill my place when I’m gone, I’m taking on as much responsibility as possible. I’m doing that along with balancing full time grad school, writing for this wonderful magazine, and deciding that I would make a GREAT softball coach even though I’m more Softball Barbie than pro player. I do it because I had a wonderful influence in my life that told me it didn’t matter if I was the CEO of a company or the city trash man, I should put my all into everything I do. He told me that work ethic and a good education were things that no one could ever take away from me. No one will ever accuse me of not giving my all when I take on a task. Even when it’s something far outside my comfort zone (MCMAP courses with the Marines comes to mind) I give it my all. I’m not afraid to fail, but I am certainly afraid not to try.
