Entering high school, you have not completely identified your sense of self, but you have certainly identified a new sense of freedom. You feel the need to break the rules, do what you want, express your opinions (occasionally) and start to develop more of who you wish to become. \n\nOne day, you wake up and wish to drastically change your personal style. After flipping through magazines, browsing the internet, and searching through look inspirations, you decide to:\n\n[[Chop off your hair]]\n[[Buy all new jewelry]]\n[[Buy more masculine tops]]\n[[Get your bellybutton pierced]]\n
Your parents are not very pleased with your choice and although they promise to try to come to all of your games, they only sporadically show up to a few throughout the season. \n\nYou make friends on the basketball team and have fun playing with the other girls. However, your other peers in middle school tend to make fun of you and call you names like butch, lesbian, and other hurtful things. Although you love the sport and your team, you are conflicted on whether to continue playing or not. It seems to conflict with both your parents and your social status.\n\n[[Quit Basketball]]\n[[Keep Playing Basketball]]\n
Your parents are thrilled with your choice and attend all of your games. They are your biggest supporters and cheer you on all throughout middle school, encouraging your basketball career. Taking you to several different camps throughout the year and summer. Your dad becomes an assisstant coach and your mom wears buttons with your picture on it.\n\nYou make many friends on the basketball team and are confident in your friendships and yourself. However, basketball isn't your favorite activity but you keep playing to make your parents and your peers happy. \n\n[[Continue Playing Basketball]]\n[[Quit Playing Basketball]]
After many confusing and harsh years of middle and high school, you decide the best organization for you is ALLY. With this decision comes new friends, advice, and a place to turn to with questions.\n\nWhile you might have had problems going against gender norms while growing up, this group offers a place of non-judgment where you can become more comfortable with yourself and explore who you are truly meant to become.\n\nEven though not everyone on campus is accepting of you or wishes to be your friend, with this new support, these issues seem trivial and not as important as they were to you in high school.\n\nWith your time in college, you decide it will finally be a time to grow into yourself.
You decide to [[quit]] the team to your parent's dissapointment. They were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are also not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, they understand that you would prefer to chase other goals you have set for yourself.\n\n
At school the next day your friends love your new accessories. They are immediately jealous and secretly plan to go buy some of their own this coming weekend. After all the attention you get, you're happy with your decision.\n\nHowever, the novelty of new jewelry wears off after a couple days and you feel somewhat dissatisfied. Even though your friends love everything you got, you don't necessarily love everything and wonder why you made the purchase in the first place. Was it only to please your friends?\n\n[[continue to college]]
Your parents are thrilled with your choice and attend all of your games. They are your biggest supporters and cheer you on all throughout middle school, encouraging your tennis career. \n\nYou make many friends on the tennis team and are confident in your friendships and yourself. However, tennis isn't your favorite activity but you keep playing to make your parents and your peers happy. \n\n[[Quit Tennis]]\n[[Keep Playing Tennis]]
The remainder of your middle school years are a little awkward but fun. You go through many changes as you prepare to take on high school. Your parents seem proud of your decisions, even if these decisions are not making you the happiest you could be. You keep some of your friends while others seem to come and go. You look forward to the freedoms and fun that come with becoming a high schooler.\n\n[[High School]]
You decide to quit the team to your parent's [[dissapointment]]. They were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are also not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, they understand that you would prefer to chase other goals you have set for yourself.\n
You walk into school the next day with all the confidence in the world, showing off your new do. Your friends give you compliments and claim to like it, telling you the cut suits you. However, you notice many other students staring at you while walking to class and some even giggling to one another. Then at lunch, you overhear two of your close friends laughing about your new pixie cut, claiming it to be a "disaster."\n\nWith your head held a little lower you endure the rest of the week attempting to maintain your previous confidence. People still remain nice to your face but your self-esteem has definitely taken a hit. With this on top of your mother's open disappointment at home, you think this cut might've been a huge mistake. \n\n[[continue to college]]
“Your” toys just do not seem that fun at all so instead you choose to play with your sister's toys. The doll house seems so much cooler than the lame GI Joe figures your mom purchased for you some time ago. You bring the toys over to your newly found friend. He seems confused by your decision. He asks “why can't we play with the other toys?” To your dissatisfaction he attempts to play with the other toys. During the duration of the playdate, you play with the toys you chose and he plays with his choice of toys.\n\tHe looks over and says “I think I want to go home now.” Your parents come into the room and call his parents. Your newly found friend seems distant, odd, and confused. When you go back to school the next week he distances himself from you. You lose a friend and throughout your transition into middle school, you have a loose friend base and have the inability to garner any more playdates with the other kids.\n\n[[Middle School]]
The remainder of your middle school years are a little awkward but fun. You go through many changes as you prepare to take on high school. Your parents seem proud of your decisions, even if these decisions are not making you the happiest you could be. You keep some of your friends while others seem to come and go. You look forward to the freedoms and fun that come with becoming a high schooler.\n\n[[High School]]
Pick a gender:\n\n[[Male]]\n[[Female]]\n
You walk into school the next day with all the confidence in the world, showing off your clothes. Your friends give you compliments and claim to like them, telling you they're all the rage right now. However, you notice many other students looking at you while walking to class and some even giggling to one another. Then at lunch, you overhear two of your close friends laughing about your polo shirt, claiming it to be a "gay." You really liked the new wardrobe you purchased from Brooks Brothers and hate the way people are reacting to your newly found style.\n\nWith your head held a little lower you endure the rest of the week attempting to maintain your previous confidence. People still remain nice to your face but your self-esteem has definitely taken a hit. With this on top of your father's open disappointment at home, you think buying new clothes might've been a huge mistake. \n\n[[College]]\n
You decide to [[continue]] playing basketball and keep your parents and peers happy. Even though you lose interest in the sport as middle school goes on, you keep at it because you know it's a fun connection between you and your parents. You also have made a lot of friends on the team.\n\n
Your parents are thrilled with your choice and attend all of your games. They are your biggest supporters and cheer you on all throughout middle school, encouraging your football career. Taking you to several different camps throughout the year and summer. Your dad becomes an assisstant coach and your mom wears buttons with your picture on it.\n\nYou make many friends on the football team and are confident in your friendships and yourself. However, football isn't your favorite activity but you keep playing to make your parents and your peers happy. \n\n[[Continue Playing Football]]\n[[Quit Football]]
By choosing to cheer, your parents become very dissapointed in you. Both your mom and dad promise to show up and support you throughout the season, but they only end up coming to the first game. Even though you enjoy the sport and enjoy going to the competitions out of state, the other guys in middle school begin to make fun of you. You are called gay on an almost daily basis.\nBy choosing to cheer you have lowered your social status throughout middle school and you are making your parents extremely upset with your decision. It makes you wonder if you should have ever joined the team in the first place. \n\n[[Continue Cheering]]\n[[Quit Cheering]]
You have followed your mother's and sister's advice and joined a sorority, and for the most part you love being a part of it. You don't get along with every member, but overall it's a great time and you have a lot of fun being a part of the organization. \n\nHowever, you sometimes feel that there are certain expectations for sorority members and guidelines that you are not comfortable meeting. Many stereotypes surround the organization and you wish that people would not label you or expect you to act in certain ways. \n\nThroughout your life, you have always done what was expected, and because of this, you have followed a fairly easy and calm path. But sometimes the norms that you follow feel constrictive and controlling, and you know you have done things in the past only because you were expected to, not because you wanted to.\n\nYou hope to push past these norms in college and explore your true self.
At school the next day your friends continuously compliment you on your new Chicago Bulls flatbill hat. They are immediately jealous and secretly plan to go buy one of their own this coming weekend. After all the attention you get, you're happy with your decision. The new hat is promoting your social status.\n\nHowever, the joy over your new hat soon wears off after a couple days and you feel somewhat dissatisfied. Your friends begin buying other new hats with teams from around the country represented on them, and it seems you have to keep buying more just to stay ahead. Even though your friends love the Chicago Bulls hat, you don't necessarily love it and wonder why you made the purchase in the first place. Was it only to please your friends?\n\n[[College]]
Even though some might say the Campus Fashion Magazine is only for girls, you decide to push the boundaries and join anyway. With limited males in the field, the magazine sees few men join, but they do welcome you, if tentatively at first.\n\nAfter you prove your skills and your ability for a good time, you fit in well with the magazine and realize that this was a great decision. Even if most guys would not join this magazine, you're proud you joined something that you are passionate about.\n\nWhile you might have had problems going against gender norms while growing up, this group offers a place of exploration where you can become more comfortable with yourself.\n\nWith your time in college, you decide it will finally be a time to grow into yourself.
After many confusing and harsh years of middle and high school, you decide the best organization for you is ALLY. With this decision comes new friends, advice, and a place to turn to with questions.\n\nWhile you might have had problems going against gender norms while growing up, this group offers a place of non-judgment where you can become more comfortable with yourself and explore who you are truly meant to become.\n\nEven though not everyone on campus is accepting of you or wishes to be your friend, with this new support, these issues seem trivial and not as important as they were to you in high school.\n\nWith your time in college, you decide it will finally be a time to grow into yourself.
On your first day of preschool you are amazed by all the wondrous activities you are presented with. You look across the field and see a group of girls laughing and having tons of fun playing hopscotch on the blacktop. On the baseball diamond you see a group of boys kicking a ball and running from base to base, it seems somewhat athletic but awesome. Next to the girls playing hopscotch there is another group of girls creating elaborate drawings from chalk, drawings that could only come from a child's imagination. Farther away another group of boys are running from one side of the field to the other side of the field with what seems to be a little brown ball, there is screaming and yelling, the competition of the game seems interesting. While scanning the field you choose to:\n\n[[Play hopscotch\t]]\n[[Play kickball]]\n[[Draw pictures with chalk]]\n[[Throw a football]]
You [[decide]] to quit the team to your parent's satisfaction. You were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, this decision keeps your parents content at home which makes your life a little bit easier.
The rest of your middle school years are interesting to say the least, and pretty awkward. Your parents never seem to be too happy with you, your friend group seems to change daily, and school just gets harder each week. However, you look forward to high school and the freedoms and fun of later curfews and high school parties.\n\n[[continue to high school]]
Looking over at the group of guys kicking the ball and running from base to base seemed so competitive and awesome you couldn't help but head over and play yourself. You have tons of fun but as you look over you can see your teacher glaring at you from a distance. When your parents come to pick you up you can tell both your teacher and parents are distraught. On the ride home your mom looks back at you through the mirror and says "you need to stop playing with the boys" you're upset because you loved playing kickball so much.\n\nThroughout the rest of preschool and the beginning of elementary school, your parents are concerned that you don't entirely fit in and consistently reinforce activities and toys girls your age usually like.\n\n[[continue to elementary school]]\n
You begin your first days of preschool. You begin to grow into your gender, and have self-realizations, not that you completely understand these realizations. During preschool, after lunch, you head outside to play during recess. You look across the field and see a bunch of girls laughing and having a howdy-doody time swinging on the swing set. You look over to the other side and you see all the boys playing what seems to be a semi-athletic sport, where four people stand in squares bouncing a ball to each other. The boys seem to be having a great time, some so entranced into the competitive nature of the game beads of sweat drip from their face.\n\n[[Play 4 square with the boys]]\n\n[[Swing with the girls]]
You decide to [[continue]] playing football and keep your parents and peers happy. Even though you lose interest in the sport as middle school goes on, you keep at it because you know it's a fun connection between you and your parents. You also have made a lot of friends on the team.\n\n
“Your” toys just do not seem that fun at all so instead you choose to play with your sister's toys. The Disney Princess Castle seems so much cooler than the lame Hot Wheels your mom purchased for you some time ago. You bring the toys over to your newly found friend. He seems confused by your decision. He asks “why can't we play with the other toys?” To your dissatisfaction he attempts to play with the other toys. During the duration of the playdate, you play with the toys you chose and he plays with his choice of toys.\n\tHe looks over and says “I think I want to go home now.” Your parents come into the room and call his parents. Your newly found friend seems distant, odd, and confused. When you go back to school the next week he distances himself from you. You lose a friend and throughout your transition into middle school, you have a loose friend base and have the inability to garner any more playdates with the other kids.\n\n[[Middle School]]
You decide to join the Engineering Club. An almost all male club. You enjoy meeting friends in this club that you will have for the rest of your life. The best part about the club is how much you get to travel and explore with other engineers around the country. The hardwork and dedication of the group are just two of the many aspects you love about the group. Although engineering is not necessarily your passion, you enjoy the group and the friends you make during your time in the group.\n\nThroughout your life, you have always done what was expected, and because of this, you have followed a fairly easy and calm path. But sometimes the norms that you follow feel constrictive and controlling, and you know you have done things in the past only because you were expected to, not because you wanted to.\n\nYou hope to push past these norms in college and explore your true self.
You walk into school the next day with all the confidence in the world, showing off your new hair cut, perfectly combed over and parted right down the side. Your friends give you compliments and claim to like them, telling you they're all the rage right now. However, you notice many other students looking at you while walking to class and some even giggling to one another. Most of the guys at school just let their hair grow, and the others just wear hats all day.\n\nThen at lunch, you overhear two of your close friends laughing about your new hair do, claiming it to be "gay." You really liked the new style you got from the barbershop uptown. You're extremely dissapointed how people reacted, especially since it took so much time to perfect this morning.\n\nWith your head held a little lower you endure the rest of the week attempting to maintain your previous confidence. People still remain nice to your face but your self-esteem has definitely taken a hit. With this on top of your father's open disappointment at home, you think getting a new hair cut and parting it was a huge mistake.\n\n[[College]]
The rest of your middle school years are interesting to say the least, and pretty awkward. Your parents never seem to be too happy with you, your friend group seems to change daily, and school just gets harder each week. However, you look forward to high school and the freedoms and fun of later curfews and high school parties.\n\n[[High School]]
Your parents are not very pleased with your choice and although they promise to try to come to all of your games, they only sporadically show up to a few throughout the season. \n\nYou make friends on the softball team and have fun playing with the other girls. However, your other peers in middle school tend to make fun of you and call you names like butch, lesbian, and other hurtful things. Although you love the sport and your team, you are conflicted on whether to continue playing or not. It seems to conflict with both your parents and your social status.\n\n[[Quit Softball]]\n[[Keep Playing Softball]]
A Journey Through Gender
Hopscotch seemed way too fun to pass up. You head over and start playing with the other girls.Your teacher glances over at you from afar and smiles gently. When your parents come to pick you up after school your preschool teacher lets your parents know that you have been adjusting well to school and that you get along well with your peers.\n\nThroughout the rest of preschool and the beginning of elementary school, your teachers and parents are confident with your growth and friendships.\n\n[[continue to elementary school]]\n
You decide to stay on the team to your parent's dissapointment. You thoroughly enjoy playing tenniws with your teammates and continue to make friends with your fellow players. Although it displeases your parents you decide it was the best [[decision]] for yourself and stay on the team throughout high school. \n
Even though some might say engineering is a boys club, you decide to push the boundaries and join an engineering club. With limited females in the field, the club sees few women join, but they do welcome you, if tentatively at first.\n\nAfter you prove your skills and your ability for a good time, you fit in well with the club and realize that this was a great decision. Even if most girls would not join a club like this, you're proud you joined something that you are passionate about.\n\nWhile you might have had problems going against gender norms while growing up, this group offers a place of exploration where you can become more comfortable with yourself.\n\nWith your time in college, you decide it will finally be a time to grow into yourself. \n\n
You decide to play with the awesome toys your parents have bought you. You and your friend spend hours racing your Hot Wheels. Your parents look in to check on how everything is going, tell you “10 more minutes, then it's time for bed!” They smile as they see you playing so well with your new friend, you can tell they are proud of you.\n\tBecause of your playdate, you have gained a new friend. He enjoyed playing with your action figures so much, he told his parents, and you two continue to schedule playdates throughout the school year. This playdate leads to the creation of other friendships. You garner a large friendship base. You enjoy elementary school, and you keep this group of friends throughout your transition into middle school.\n\n[[Middle School]]
You have followed your father's and cousin's advice and joined a fraternity, and for the most part you thoroughly enjoy being a part of it. You don't get along with every member, but overall it's a great time and you have a lot of fun being a part of the organization. \n\nHowever, you sometimes feel that there are certain expectations for fraternity members and guidelines that you are not comfortable meeting. Many stereotypes surround the organization and you wish that people would not label you or expect you to act in certain ways. \n\nThroughout your life, you have always done what was expected, and because of this, you have followed a fairly easy and calm path. But sometimes the norms that you follow feel constrictive and controlling, and you know you have done things in the past only because you were expected to, not because you wanted to.\n\nYou hope to push past these norms in college and explore your true self.
As your elementary school years come to a close you anxiously await middle school. With new classmates, added pressures from your parents, your peers, and your teachers, all eyes are on you to excel in a new school. \n\nAt the beggining of middle school, your parents strongly suggest you pick a sport to participate in. They also definitely have their favorites out of the list below, you decide on:\n\n[[Playing Tennis]]\n[[Playing Football]]\n[[Playing Basketball]]\n[[Cheerleading]] \n\n
You decide to [[stay]] on the team to your parent's dissapointment. You thoroughly enjoy playing softball with your teammates and continue to make friends with your fellow players. Although it displeases your parents you decide it was the best decsion for yourself and stay on the team throughout high school. \n\n
“Your” toys just do not seem that fun at all so instead you choose to play with your brother's toys. The Tonka Trucks seem so much cooler than the lame Barbies your mom purchased for you some time ago. You bring the trucks over to your newly found friend. She seems confused by your decision. She asks “why can't we play with the other toys?” To your dissatisfaction she attempts to play with the other toys. During the duration of the playdate, you play with the Tonka Trucks by yourself and she plays with her choice of toys.\n\tShe looks over and says “I think I want to go home now.” Your parents come into the room and call her parents. Your newly found friend seems distant, odd, and confused. When you go back to school the next week she distances herself from you. You lose a friend and throughout your transition into middle school, you have a loose friend base and have the inability to garner any more playdates with the other kids.\n\n[[continue to middle school]]\n
The rest of your middle school years are interesting to say the least, and pretty awkward. Your parents never seem to be too happy with you, your friend group seems to change daily, and school just gets harder each week. However, you look forward to high school and the freedoms and fun of later curfews and high school parties.\n\n[[continue to high school]]
You decide to continue playing volleyball and keep your parents and peers [[happy]]. Even though you lose interest in the sport as middle school goes on, you keep at it because you know it's a fun connection between you and your parents. You also have made a lot of friends on the team.\n\n
You [[decide]] to quit the team to your parent's satisfaction. You were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, this decision keeps your parents content at home which makes your life a little bit easier. \n
You have arrived at the place you have been dreaming of. A place where indepence, personal freedom, and creativity are encouraged. At least, that has always been what you have heard. You enroll in classes, make friends in your dorm, and begin to slowly participate in activities around the campus. You wish to try out different options before you join any one organization. \n\nHowever, you've been receiving a lot of pressure from your mother and your sister who were both a part of sororities to rush. They claim it will help you make lots of friends and will be the best experience for you at college. You are considering joining:\n\n[[A sorority]]\n[[ALLY (LGBTQA organization)]]\n[[A Fashion Magazine]]\n[[An engineering club]] \n
You decide to play with the awesome toys your parents have bought you. You and your friend spend hours dressing up the Barbies and creating these elaborate back stories for each one. Your parents look in to check on how everything is going, tell you “10 more minutes, then it's time for bed!” They smile as they see you playing so well with your new friend, you can tell they are proud of you.\n\tBecause of your playdate, you have gained a new friend. She enjoyed playing Barbies so much, she told her parents, and you two continue to schedule playdates throughout the school year. This playdate leads to the creation of other friendships. You garner a large friendship base. You enjoy elementary school, and you keep this group of friends throughout your transition into middle school.\n\n[[continue to middle school]]
Your parents are thrilled with your choice and attend all of your games. They are your biggest supporters and cheer you on all throughout middle school, encouraging your volleyball career. \n\nYou make many friends on the volleyball team and are confident in your friendships and yourself. However, volleyball isn't your favorite activity but you keep playing to make your parents and your peers happy. \n\n[[Quit Volleyball]] \n[[Keep Playing Volleyball]]
You decide to join a fashion magazine on campus and begin writing articles right away. You enjoy interviewing others at your school and the fast work environment associated with a print magazine. Fashion might not be your biggest interest, or even a passion of yours, but it's fun for the time being.\n\nThroughout your life, you have always done what was expected, and because of this, you have followed a fairly easy and calm path. But sometimes the norms that you follow feel constrictive and controlling, and you know you have done things in the past only because you were expected to, not because you wanted to.\n\nYou hope to push past these norms in college and explore your true self.\n
At school the next day your friends love your new accessory. They are immediately jealous and secretly plan to go get theirs done this coming weekend. After all the attention you get, you're happy with your decision.\n\nHowever, the novelty of a new bellybutton ring wears off after a couple days and you feel somewhat dissatisfied. Even though your friends love the ring, you don't necessarily love it and wonder why you made the purchase in the first place. Was it only to please your friends?\n\n[[continue to college]]
You have begun your public education track in one of the county's best schools. During class and snack time you begin to form a relationship with one of your male classmates. He seems funny and laid back. You enjoy hanging out with him during recess and ask your mom if he can come over and play. When he comes over your mother sends you both to the playroom. His face lights up with joy as he glances to the corner where all the toys are located. You walk over, stand in front of the gleaming pile of shiny new toys, you look over at “your” pile (filled with Tonka trucks, GI Joe action figures, Pokémon Stadium, and tons of Hot Wheels) and then glance at your “sister’s” pile (filled with Barbie’s, dress-up clothes, Disney Princess Castles, and a doll house). \n\nWhat toy do you pick to play with:\n\n[[GI Joe]]\n[[Hot Wheels]]\n[[Disney Princess]]\n[[Doll House]]\n\n
You decide to [[quit]] the team to your parent's dissapointment. They were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are also not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, they understand that you would prefer to chase other goals you have set for yourself.\n\n
The swing does not just look fun, it looks invigorating. You walk over, grab a seat, and start pumping your legs back-and-forth, back-and-forth, back-and-forth, until you begin to climb higher and higher into the air. You feel the breeze on your face, you feel alive. You make friends with the other girls swinging, as you look over you see your teacher glaring at you, crunching her face as if she is attempting to squeeze a ball with her stomach. You are confused. \nWhen your parents come to pick you up, you notice your teacher wagging her finger at you as she speaks to your parents. Her face looks like the Michelin Tire guy you see on TV between episodes of Spongebob Squarepants, her voice is raised, and your parents look dissatisfied. Your dad looks at you and says in an intimidating tone “no playing with the girls, that’s not what little boys are supposed to do!” Your mom looks equally as troubled, she stands and stares in silence. They do not say a word to you on the car ride home. \n\n[[Elementary School]]\n
The remainder of your middle school years are a little awkward but fun. You go through many changes as you prepare to take on high school. Your parents seem proud of your decisions, even if these decisions are not making you the happiest you could be. You keep some of your friends while others seem to come and go. You look forward to the freedoms and fun that come with becoming a high schooler.\n\n[[continue to high school]]
Your parents are not very pleased with your choice and although they promise to try to come to all of your games, they only sporadically show up to a few throughout the season. \n\nYou make friends on the tennis team and have fun playing with the other guys. However, your other peers in middle school tend to make fun of you and call you names like gay, faggot, and other hurtful things. Although you love the sport and your team, you are conflicted on whether to continue playing or not. It seems to conflict with both your parents and your social status.\n\n[[Continue Playing Tennis]]\n[[Quit Playing Tennis]]
Drawing elaborate images that you muster up seemed way too fun to pass up. You head over and start playing with the other girls. Your teacher glances over at you from afar and smiles gently. When your parents come to pick you up after school your preschool teacher lets your parents know that you have been adjusting well to school and that you get along well with your peers.\n\nThroughout the rest of preschool and the beginning of elementary school, your teachers and parents are confident with your growth and friendships.\n\n[[continue to elementary school]]
You decide to play with the awesome toys your parents have bought you. You and your friend spend hours creating elaborate battles with your GI Joe toys, he uses the GI Joe figures, as you attempt to take over your make-believe world with Cobra Commander at the helm. Your parents look in to check on how everything is going, tell you “10 more minutes, then it's time for bed!” They smile as they see you playing so well with your new friend, you can tell they are proud of you.\n\tBecause of your playdate, you have gained a new friend. He enjoyed playing with your action figures so much, he told his parents, and you two continue to schedule playdates throughout the school year. This playdate leads to the creation of other friendships. You garner a large friendship base. You enjoy elementary school, and you keep this group of friends throughout your transition into middle school.\n\n[[Middle School]]
You are born as a male and given clothes to match your gender. When you are born your parents paint your nursery blue, and buy you clothes from OshKosh B’Gosh from the “Little Boys” section of the store. Your new wardrobe consists of denim overalls, collared shirts, dinosaur t’s, and light up shoes. As your hair begins to grow long your parents cut it to keep it an “acceptable” length for boys, and even begin to part it. They begin to call you “buddy.”\n\n[[next]]\n
You decide to stay on the team to your parent's dissapointment. You thoroughly enjoy cheering with your teammates and continue to make friends with your fellow cheerleaders. Although it displeases your parents you decide it was the best [[decision]] for yourself and stay on the team throughout high school. \n
You decide to [[stay]] on the team to your parent's dissapointment. You thoroughly enjoy playing softball with your teammates and continue to make friends with your fellow players. Although it displeases your parents you decide it was the best decsion for yourself and stay on the team throughout high school. \n\n
You decide to quit the team to your parent's [[satisfaction]]. You were looking forward to playing tennis throughout the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, this decision keeps your parents content at home which makes your life a little bit easier. \n
You decide to play with the awesome toys your parents have bought you. You and your friend spend hours dressing up as the Little Mermaid and Cinderella. Your parents look in to check on how everything is going, tell you “10 more minutes, then it's time for bed!” They smile as they see you playing so well with your new friend, you can tell they are proud of you.\n\tBecause of your playdate, you have gained a new friend. She enjoyed dressing up so much, she told her parents, and you two continue to schedule playdates throughout the school year. This playdate leads to the creation of other friendships. You garner a large friendship base. You enjoy elementary school, and you keep this group of friends throughout your transition into middle school.\n\n\n\n[[continue to middle school]]
You decide to quit the team to your parent's [[dissapointment]]. They were looking forward to you playing out the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are also not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, they understand that you would prefer to chase other goals you have set for yourself.\n
You decide to quit the team to your parent's [[satisfaction]]. You were looking forward to you cheering throughout the season and possibly throughout high school. Your teammates are not thrilled with your decision to leave the team. However, this decision keeps your parents content at home which makes your life a little bit easier. \n
At school the next day your friends continuously compliment you on your new Nike shorts and Underarmor sweatshirts. They are immediately jealous and secretly plan to go buy some of their own this coming weekend. After all the attention you get, you're happy with your decision. The new Nike and Underarmor clothes are promoting your social status.\n\nHowever, the joy over your new Nike clothes soon wears off after a couple days and you feel somewhat dissatisfied. Your friends begin buying other new clothes, and it seems you have to keep buying more just to stay ahead. Even though your friends love everything you bought, you don't necessarily love everything and wonder why you made the purchase in the first place. Was it only to please your friends?\n\n[[College]]
You walk into school the next day with all the confidence in the world, showing off your clothes. Your friends give you compliments and claim to like them, telling you they're all the rage right now. However, you notice many other students looking at you while walking to class and some even giggling to one another. Then at lunch, you overhear two of your close friends laughing about your masculine top, claiming it to be a "disaster."\n\nWith your head held a little lower you endure the rest of the week attempting to maintain your previous confidence. People still remain nice to your face but your self-esteem has definitely taken a hit. With this on top of your mother's open disappointment at home, you think this wardrobe change might've been a huge mistake. \n\n[[continue to college]]
Looking over at the group of guys running the ball from one side of the field to the other seemed so competitive and awesome you couldn't help but head over and play yourself. You have tons of fun but as you look over you can see your teacher glaring at you from a distance. When your parents come to pick you up you can tell both your teacher and parents are distraught. On the ride home your mom looks back at you through the mirror and says "you need to stop playing with the boys" you're upset because you loved playing football so much.\n\nThroughout the rest of preschool and the beginning of elementary school, your parents are concerned that you don't entirely fit in and consistently reinforce activities and toys girls your age usually like.\n\n[[continue to elementary school]]\n\n
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You head over and play the incredibly fun game of 4 square. You do not just play but you become a shining star on the playground. Your teacher smiles at a distance, noticing you are fitting in just fine with the students. \nWhen your parents come to pick you up, you notice your teacher come over to talk to them. Your parents smile and laugh, your dad reaches over runs his fingers through your hair in a swirly motion, your mom kisses you on the cheek leaving her red lipstick implanted on the spot. You can tell they are proud of you.\n\n[[Elementary School]]\n
You have begun your public education track in one of the counties best schools. During class and snack time you begin to form a relationship with one of your female classmates. She seems funny and laid back. You enjoy hanging out with her during recess and ask your mom if she can come over and play. When she comes over your mother sends you both to the playroom. Her face lights up with joy as she glances to the corner where all the toys are located. You walk over, stand in front of the gleaming pile of shiny new toys, and look over at your “brothers” pile (filled with Tonka trucks, and the Nintendo game Pokémon Stadium) and then glance at "your" pile (filled with Barbie’s and dress-up clothes). \n\n\nUltimately you choose:\n\n[[Barbies]]\t\n[[Trucks]]\t\n[[Dress Up]]\n[[Pokemon]]\t\n\n
As your elementary school years come to a close you anxiously await middle school. With new classmates, added pressures from your parents, your peers, and your teachers, all eyes are on you to excel in a new school. \n\nAt the beggining of middle school, your parents strongly suggest you pick a sport to participate in. They also definitely have their favorites out of the list below, you decide on:\n\n[[Tennis]] \n[[Softball]] \n[[Volleyball]] \n[[Basketball]]\n
Entering high school, you have not completely identified your sense of self, but you have certainly identified a new sense of freedom. You feel the need to break the rules, do what you want, express your opinions (occasionally) and start to develop more of who you wish to become. \n\nYou decide you want to change something about yourself. After browsing a Brooks Brothers Gentlemen Catalog, walking through Dicks Sporting Goods, and checking out new hair styles for guys you choose:\n\n[[Part your hair]]\n[[Buy sporty clothes]]\n[[Buy prep clothes]]\n[[Decide to wear hats everyday]]\n
You have arrived at the place you have been dreaming of. A place where indepence, personal freedom, and creativity are encouraged. At least, that has always been what you have heard. You enroll in classes, make friends in your dorm, and begin to slowly participate in activities around the campus. You wish to try out different options before you join any one organization. \n\nHowever, you've been receiving a lot of pressure from your dad and your cousin who were both a part of fraternities to rush. They claim it will help you make lots of friends and will be the best experience for you at college. You are considering joining:\n\n[[A Fraternity]]\n[[ALLY (LGBTQA Organization)]]\n[[Engineering Club]]\n[[The Campus Fashion Magazine]]
You are born as a female and your parents are absolutely thrilled. When your parents bring you home from the hospital you are given dresses from the "Little Girls" section of Baby Gap along with abundant pink outfits. They paint your room pink and make it fit for a princess.\n\n[[You grow up knowing this as your normal]]
Jordan Ballinger\nAbbey Mauch \nLaurel Sira
The remainder of your middle school years are a little awkward but fun. You go through many changes as you prepare to take on high school. Your parents seem proud of your decisions, even if these decisions are not making you the happiest you could be. You keep some of your friends while others seem to come and go. You look forward to the freedoms and fun that come with becoming a high schooler.\n\n[[continue to high school]]
“Your” toys just do not seem that fun at all so instead you choose to play with your brother's toys. The Pokemon Stadium game seems so much cooler than the lame Barbies your mom purchased for you some time ago. You bring the game over to your newly found friend. She seems confused by your decision. She asks “why can't we play with the other toys?” To your dissatisfaction she attempts to play with the other toys. During the duration of the playdate, you play Pokemon Stadium by yourself and she plays with her choice of toys.\n\tShe looks over and says “I think I want to go home now.” Your parents come into the room and call her parents. Your newly found friend seems distant, odd, and confused. When you go back to school the next week she distances herself from you. You lose a friend and throughout your transition into middle school, you have a loose friend base and have the inability to garner any more playdates with the other kids.\n\n[[continue to middle school]]\n
The rest of your middle school years are interesting to say the least, and pretty awkward. Your parents never seem to be too happy with you, your friend group seems to change daily, and school just gets harder each week. However, you look forward to high school and the freedoms and fun of later curfews and high school parties.\n\n[[High School]]
You decide to continue playing volleyball and keep your parents and peers [[happy]]. Even though you lose interest in the sport as middle school goes on, you keep at it because you know it's a fun connection between you and your parents. You also have made a lot of friends on the team.\n\n