Oy, what to say. I am always at a loss when it comes to sections like this. Who I am... can this really be defined in a small little box?

According to a recent conference I attended, my 'bio' said I am "a passionate advocate for the GLBT community and seeks to dispel myths and stereotypes through education via his writing and editing for the HIV/AIDS and Gay/Lesbian sites at BellaOnline.com. Jase teaches HIV/AIDS awareness, safer sex practices, and other GLBT issues through panels, and classes, and is a proponent for equal rights." Yet this is only one aspect of my life.

Yes, I am a GLBT educator. Yes, I am an HIV/AIDS educator. Yes, I am a freelance writer. Yes, I am many things.

I am a senior at Western Illinois University. I am an Interdisciplinary Studies major with my area of concentration in counseling. I am also finishing up my AA in Psychology from Carl Sandburg College. I have 9 hours left until I am finished with that.

I have been truly blessed (sometimes)in my life. I had a rough childhood like many kids my age (hey 29 is still young damnit). But with the love and help of many wonderful people, I became the man I am in SPITE of the early years of pain. The old addage, "What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger" is so true. I have had the priveledge of being loved by a very wonderful man who was taken away from me at a very young age. He only lived on the Earth for 21 years, but he lived them like no other, and I had the honor of coming along for the ride. I don't know how people can go their whole lives without ever loving someone as deeply as this. There is no substitution that could ever come close to that feeling.

I will leave you with a quote that should make you think. Hopefully the message is clear:

"Gay people are like mirrors. Without a little abbrassive rubbing, we don't get polished and cannot shine brightly for the world to see"