Each year we ask our classmates a straightforward, simple question taken from the lines of a poem by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Mary Oliver. We share with you intimate and candid responses to this question, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" Concept and photography: Tony Deifell, MBA 2002.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
“When will you have a girlfriend?”
My Lebanese grandmother asked me for the 100th time. “I don’t know…” I laughed and quickly changed the subject. See the thing is, I won’t ever have a girlfriend because I’m gay.
I grew up in suburban Maryland and went to an all-boys school from 3rd grade until college. While I enjoyed playing baseball, basketball, and football for our school teams, I sometimes felt out of place talking to the guys after practice.
I didn’t feel like I could really be myself. But I also didn’t see myself in the stereotype of a gay man. So who was I? Who was I supposed to be? Is this just a phase?
In the LGBTQ community, we don’t come out once. We come out whenever we interact with someone new and are faced with questions with an expected type of answer: Tell me about your family. Are you dating someone? Who is your plus one for the holiday party?
As I leave HBS, I am determined to be an example for that gay kid in Maryland who doesn’t have a role model.
It’s okay to like sports.
Geek out on innovative technology (I do).
It’s okay to be you.
It’s great to be you.
