My family studies classroom was in a busy hallway of the high school, and so at lunch break, I purposefully left my door open so that students could drop in if they wanted. Adolescence is a difficult time with teenagers experimenting with new behaviors which often resulted in serious things.

Growing up, I thought each generation has its own wars. Mine was Vietnam. I had questions. What had it done to deserve destruction more personally?

I pressed the red end call button late on Friday, I had finally reached the CPS worker after blowing up her phone for three days. It's better than waiting for the chips to fall.

I am meeting with Tanisha at the library. We find a table in the back for more privacy. Despite being homeless, Tanisha never appears stressed and always has a smile on her face, which always impressed me.

I was five years old when I made a major life decision. I wanted to be a nurse. I was fascinated by nurses in their crisp white uniforms, comforting their patients. Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton were my heroes. When asked why I wanted to be a nurse, I answered similar to most of my nurse colleagues, “I want to help people”. In my young mind, I didn’t really know what that meant exactly, holding on to my romantic notions of nurses.

Days before local temperatures are predicted to hit 20 degrees or less during the night a call for volunteers goes out via email. Anyone can sign up to sit one or more three hour shifts. Likewise, word is out on the street. Anyone can show up, anytime between 8pm and 8am. No metal detectors, no drug or behavior screenings. No questions asked. You’re cold, you’re in.

I heard you before I saw the look on your faces,

cowbells jingling, or maybe it was the clang of a pot, lid on a tin can.

These two just got married, a lone friend Harold your union,

Transformation. The Collins Dictionary defines transformation as a complete change in appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that the thing or person is improved.

Transformation. The Collins Dictionary defines transformation as a complete change in appearance or character of something or someone, especially so that the thing or person is improved.

I heard you before I saw the look on your faces,

cowbells jingling, or maybe it was the clang of a pot, lid on a tin can.

These two just got married, a lone friend Harold your union,

There were always subtle signs that I was different from the other girls. When I was 13 years old, I finally found the words to describe my feelings. I sat outside with my father on a beautiful fall New England day, Dad, I'm transgender.

The year is 2013

I am almost 18 years old.

The atmosphere is heavy with tension.

My grandmother enters my room with an icy expression on her face,

from woman to woman.

I sit in a room with others, each working in their own spaces on abolitionism and the rights of transgender people. We are discussing Dean Spade's 'Normal Life.'

She lived alone, you know. No family, they say… An estranged daughter somewhere maybe, they say… So sad, they say

Have you ever had to drop a loved one off at the hospital, unsure of when or if you will ever see them again? Can you imagine saying goodbye via feast time while they are dying in a hospital bed alone?

It all begins with an idea.

mi familia es numerosa siete hermanas y el menor un varón

mi niñez fue como el alegre color de los campos disfrutaba

It all begins with an idea.

Back in Ethiopia, I enjoyed every second of my life. I never felt stressed over anything I could get over my troubles real quick.

When I was broke or needed any kind of hope I could always ask family or friends. They were always there.