There is a wall I have built in my life. I let very few people in and let even less information out of myself. I feel like I'm protecting myself by hiding behind this wall. I realize that this wall prevents me from progressing even in the slightest, but it's not necessarily something I chose. The things that happened in my life made me who I am today. A series of experiences largely due to my homosexuality led me to close myself off to other people. Instances that happened in my family, at school, and even in my adult life that just reaffirmed every wall I put up against those around me. I wish I hadn't felt the need to do so, but as time has shown, I must guard what I hold dear or it will be exploited. For the sake of organization, I'll start with the past and move into a more present tense with my stories. In fifth grade I was just discovering my love for Britney Spears. I remember when I danced to the constant ridicule of my brothers. They noticed that I was the only guy they had ever met who danced with Britney. Her music was generally classified as women's music and obviously it wasn't okay for me to dance to it. One day I was playing with my Britney and my sister had invited some of her friends. Maybe I was playing a little too loud, and so my sister decided that the privacy of my room needed to be invaded. Together with his companions he broke into my room and made fun of me. My sister put an end to my embarrassment with this simple statement. “I can't wait for mom and dad to find out you're gay.” Imagine being in fifth grade when your hormones are just starting to kick in. You start to form opinions, develop musical tastes and you notice that..... .center of the paper......elf is that I have received verbal abuse. Instead I write this as a way to inform you about myself and possibly others who react the same way. Because of the way things have happened in my life, I find it safer to hide behind a wall rather than make myself vulnerable. I want to change my instincts and become a more confident and true person, but the change has to come from both sides. While I try to lower my walls, others must learn to accept me as I am. Every time I tried to let my walls down, something happened that made me question the possibility of change. I fear that I will have to live my whole life with this secrecy, but with the help of others I can change that. The best thing we can do as a species is to help each other grow. I will do my part to expand the minds of those who disagree with me, as long as they are willing to change themselves too.