Although I definitely had feelings of loneliness, I was fortunate to have had teachers who always kept an eye out for me. I remember one teacher when I was in Year Two, who would always check in on me during lunchtime when she was on duty. Knowing that someone at school cared made such a difference and helped me to stay afloat.

As I transitioned into adolescence, I continued to feel different to other students, but I attempted to assimilate. This helped me develop a stronger group of friends at secondary school which allowed me to feel more connected to my peers at school. Yet, that nagging feeling of divergence persisted. It wasn’t until later that I could put a name to what had set me apart – I’m gay.

During my school years, LGBTQIA+ media representation was sparse, and it was difficult to access information about what it meant to be LGBTQIA+. However, I was fortunate to have some teachers who were supportive of LGBTQIA+ students, including one openly gay teacher and one openly lesbian teacher. Their mere existence at my school made it that little bit easier for us LGBTQIA+ students. For me, seeing older role models who were living happy lives, while also being open about their sexuality, helped relieve my anxieties about a possible future as an openly gay man.

These two teachers, in conjunction with other staff, were pivotal in working with students to champion LGBTQIA+ initiatives, from celebrating Pride to bringing about changes in our curriculum. As a result of these initiatives, more and more students were able to be open about their own sexual orientation and gender. Looking back, I feel even more appreciation for these incredible teachers who helped create an environment where I could better explore my identity and then, eventually, come to embrace it.