When I was in high school, I went from a place where I had a lot of self esteem and self worth to a very low place quickly. I did attempt suicide at one point because I thought there was no hope for the future and to continue on was pointless, but I reconsidered at the last moment. It is a miracle I am alive after what I did.
After I lost most of my friends, I tried to keep a low profile. There was a gay guy in my class that did the opposite. In a time when most gay people were in the closet he decided to be openly gay though it was obvious from his affect that he was effeminate if not gay. Being openly gay in the 1980s meant you were probably ostracized by straight people and often beaten just for being yourself and having a sexual preference that was not considered the norm. Even the teacher tried to dissuade this guy from writing about being gay in essays and being out, but this young gay man was ahead of his time, BRAVE and FEARLESS.
I struck up a conversation with him once and we talked about music and he said his favorite band was SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. So that was how I got into their music. I figured such a strong willed person must know good music and it turns out he did.
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