I'm in my 11th year teaching 2nd grade. I began coming out to my classes as trans 3 years ago. I came out to my new class last week. I have received many positive emails of support from classroom parents, and each one means a lot to me, but today I got a particularly special one.

A snippet: "[Name] really connected with your story. Since she was 2 she has expressed that she doesn't really feel like a girl. Your story helped her articulate some things a bit more." I was floored and touched. I wrote back saying to keep me posted re: name, pronouns as needed

An hour later, a new reply: "Shortly after sending that first email to you I had time to sit and talk with [Name] about this. He said that he does want to use he/him pronouns now and wants to be [New name] instead of [Name]. He said he wanted to "be honest" with everyone now."

And now I'm crying at my desk because I'm so overwhelmed by this revelation and the profundity of these events. I didn't have language for this as a kid, and now by living authentically, I've helped someone wonderful and special find his. My heart is bursting with love and pride.

Now I get to work with his parents about the class conversation tomorrow reintroducing him, an exciting & uplifting task. I get to support this kid & help nurture this safe space to be himself. I think the others will to be so excited for him. I know I'm going to set that tone.

You can't tell me visibility and representation don't matter. You can't tell me they don't change and save lives. When we are all free to be ourselves, the world is a better place.

UPDATE!!! His parents just emailed me a picture of his new haircut (!!) He went from ponytails or braids now to a buzz cut, and it looks SO GOOD! But what made me instantly cry is that he is smiling bigger than I've ever seen. He looks so happy to look and feel like himself.

One more update: We did identity maps this week, and this is what he turned in. Had we done this assignment 2 weeks ago or more, his map would've looked very different. Seeing him proudly submit this with his newly found truths made me emotional all over again. So proud of him