English for

Academic Purposes
Ermino, Andre Jose A. 12 - G. Zara
 "chrysalis"
By: Andre Jose A. Ermino
I never fully grasped what it meant to be gay as a kid. I've
never understood the strong differences between pink and blue,
dolls and race cars, pretty gowns, and sports-themed t-shirts. I
never understood why these lines were drawn, or why I was on
the "wrong" side of the fence. Nonetheless, I persisted, and I
evolved into who I am now: a mentally and emotionally strong
someone who loves himself and is willing to help others love
themselves as well.

Hi! My name is Andre Jose A. Ermino, and I am an 18-year-old

student from Batasan Hills, Quezon City. I lived in a simple house
with my family that consists of my parents and my two sisters.
When I was a kid, I enjoyed talking and playing with my female
sisters and cousins, and as a result, some of my male cousins
called to me as "beki," which means gay. I grew up thinking I was
different as a gay person. Hearing other kids refer to anyone
who deviates from standard gender expectations as a "fag," and
being labeled a "gay" and mocked with words when I entered as a
freshman in high school. I hadn't told anyone about my sexuality
and had no idea what it meant, but I knew it was an insult.
 As a high school student, I encountered some bad
experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Despite
these difficulties at school, I am still largely accepted, for which
I am grateful. The most difficult challenge I've faced as a "gay
student" over the last four years has been the stereotypical
judgments made by my male classmates, such as "All gay guys are
insanely flamboyant and overly dramatic," and the occasional peer
who uses homosexuality to make bad jokes about my physical
appearance and characteristics. Even though these issues are
infuriating, I know not to take them seriously. Being gay has never
been easy, but my experience has been aided by my friends,
teachers, counselors, and especially my family who point out
anything they believe can help me, such as joining some clubs and
groups about the true meaning of sexual orientation and the
LGBTQ+, reading books about acceptance within the sexuality, and
of course the confidence that I build up through meditation and
welcoming myself to a great me, I wouldn't be who I am today if
it weren't for them, and I wouldn't be happy. And to my parents,
who helped me work through my problems, from dealing with
emotions to finding places where I can be myself. I am truly
blessed to have them in my life.
 At this point, I know that the determination and ambition of
others, combined with my own courage, can change how people
perceive us as different people because of our sexual orientation.
And by that, this goal is not far from becoming a reality. I'm sure
I'm not alone in having this experience, and I'm excited to see how
far we can go in making this dream a reality. I believe that if we
work together, we can tear down the wall and speak out. Lastly,
my wings like a beautiful butterfly is my weapon to achieve my
goals and dreams as a LGBTQ+ citizen. With pride. For pride.