“From a young age, I always found myself deeply fascinated by the arts, psychology, and philosophy. Now, as a master’s student in counseling psychology, I look back at the journey that brought me here with both pride and reflection.

When I first told my parents about my desire to study psychology, they were concerned about how I would make a living in this field, especially being a male. However, their doubts did not deter me from following my passion. Despite my professional decision, there was a personal decision that I made later.

From an early age, I realized I was attracted to men, but it took me years to understand and accept my feelings. In school, I faced harassment and bullying for being too feminine, something I couldn’t help and didn’t understand fully at the time.

After completing my 12th grade, I began to understand myself better and started valuing my emotions and thoughts. During this period of self-exploration, I discovered that my submissive nature made it easy for others to take advantage of me, leaving me feeling low and defeated. Despite this challenging phase, it helped shape me into the person I am today, someone I am proud to be.

I turned to art as an outlet, expressing my emotions and thoughts through digital art. When a queer collective approached me to work on their calendar art, I realized I wasn’t alone. I met like-minded individuals who made me feel accepted and understood. It was a liberating experience that allowed me to embrace life on my own terms.

I live by the mantra: “Live your life and do what your heart says, as long as it doesn’t affect anybody else’s life.” While I still encounter hatred, I also receive tremendous support. My weekdays are dedicated to studying, and my weekends are reserved for creating art. I have six piercings, love doing my nails, and enjoy applying mehndi. These little acts of self-expression bring me joy.

My parents are aware of who I am to some extent, but we don’t discuss it at home. I believe that coming out should happen when one is ready. It’s important to take your time and build the strength to face the world. I’m 21, and I have no regrets about the professional and personal choices that I made, which made me live authentically and with courage.”

Disclaimer: To protect the individual’s privacy, we’ve replaced their face with an animated representation. This allows us to respect their anonymity while still sharing their story.