The topic is choose an issue of importance to you-the issue could be personal, school related, local, political, or international in scope-and write an essay in which you explain the significance of that issue to yourself, your family, your community, or your generation.
I chose the issue of homophobia and intolerance/acceptance of it. This is a very personal experience and I'm not sure if I should use it.. Any help?
America is suppose to be the land of the free and the home of the brave...
Only for those who are straight, that is. Homophobia is a large issue in our country today, with more than one third of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered high school students attempting suicide. That is one third too many, yet very little is being done about the issue of acceptance, or tolerance, at the very least, in the United States. Not only is this a personal issue for myself, but it's also an issue that has major relevance all around our country.
During my sophomore year in high school, at the ripe age of sixteen I experienced first hand what this intolerance feels like and believe me, it isn't pleasant. Dating someone who is the daughter of Christian pastors may not have been the brightest idea on my part, but I pushed back the words of my conscience telling me to be smart and went with my heart. It didn't take long to feel the wrath of two people who desperately wanted me to stay away from their daughter, but I thought I was "in love" and I was practically blindfolded to the reality of what was happening. I was completely unaware of the emotional repercussions that homophobia would have on me, but I found out soon enough. Numerous calls, voicemails, and text messages were left on my phone advising me, not only to stay away from their daughter or authority figures would be involved, but that I was going to hell.
For over a year, I hid who I was from my family and friends. I put up with this bullying from two "people of God" all alone. The hate that I felt outweighed anything else that was going on in my life, yet I still kept it to myself for fear of being judged. The feelings I was bottling up hurt almost as bad as the words that were being said to me. I shed more tears than a sixteen-year-old girl should have and I had horrible thoughts about life that should never have crossed my mind in the first place. My friends slowly started to trickle away, my grades plummeted downhill fast, and my beloved sport of Cross Country wasn't as enjoyable as it once had been. The toll these words had on me were unlike anything else that I had ever experienced, but I was stuck in quick sand, and with every move I made I sank deeper and deeper into something I found that I didn't really want to be involved in. It took me getting to my lowest point emotionally before I finally was able to pick myself up and walk away, but not before all that had happened did its damage. I'm in a better place now, but many people that are part of the LGBT community are still suffering in silence.
Although our country is making progress with this issue, there is still a lot of prejudice surrounding the stigma of being gay, but this is the 21st century, where discrimination should be at a minimum. This is the second highest reason children give for bullying, so our battle with this prejudice is far from over. This is an issue that I have experienced first hand, so for me, it is an extremely important issue to take a stand against not just in my local community, but nationwide. In this day and age, no child should live in fear of being bullied, whether it is from another child or an intolerant adult, because of who they are. The land of the free shouldn't have a disclaimer that says "for straight people only;" all American citizens should have the freedom to be themselves.
I chose the issue of homophobia and intolerance/acceptance of it. This is a very personal experience and I'm not sure if I should use it.. Any help?
America is suppose to be the land of the free and the home of the brave...
Only for those who are straight, that is. Homophobia is a large issue in our country today, with more than one third of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered high school students attempting suicide. That is one third too many, yet very little is being done about the issue of acceptance, or tolerance, at the very least, in the United States. Not only is this a personal issue for myself, but it's also an issue that has major relevance all around our country.
During my sophomore year in high school, at the ripe age of sixteen I experienced first hand what this intolerance feels like and believe me, it isn't pleasant. Dating someone who is the daughter of Christian pastors may not have been the brightest idea on my part, but I pushed back the words of my conscience telling me to be smart and went with my heart. It didn't take long to feel the wrath of two people who desperately wanted me to stay away from their daughter, but I thought I was "in love" and I was practically blindfolded to the reality of what was happening. I was completely unaware of the emotional repercussions that homophobia would have on me, but I found out soon enough. Numerous calls, voicemails, and text messages were left on my phone advising me, not only to stay away from their daughter or authority figures would be involved, but that I was going to hell.
For over a year, I hid who I was from my family and friends. I put up with this bullying from two "people of God" all alone. The hate that I felt outweighed anything else that was going on in my life, yet I still kept it to myself for fear of being judged. The feelings I was bottling up hurt almost as bad as the words that were being said to me. I shed more tears than a sixteen-year-old girl should have and I had horrible thoughts about life that should never have crossed my mind in the first place. My friends slowly started to trickle away, my grades plummeted downhill fast, and my beloved sport of Cross Country wasn't as enjoyable as it once had been. The toll these words had on me were unlike anything else that I had ever experienced, but I was stuck in quick sand, and with every move I made I sank deeper and deeper into something I found that I didn't really want to be involved in. It took me getting to my lowest point emotionally before I finally was able to pick myself up and walk away, but not before all that had happened did its damage. I'm in a better place now, but many people that are part of the LGBT community are still suffering in silence.
Although our country is making progress with this issue, there is still a lot of prejudice surrounding the stigma of being gay, but this is the 21st century, where discrimination should be at a minimum. This is the second highest reason children give for bullying, so our battle with this prejudice is far from over. This is an issue that I have experienced first hand, so for me, it is an extremely important issue to take a stand against not just in my local community, but nationwide. In this day and age, no child should live in fear of being bullied, whether it is from another child or an intolerant adult, because of who they are. The land of the free shouldn't have a disclaimer that says "for straight people only;" all American citizens should have the freedom to be themselves.