Hello, My name is Juan

[JuanieH]

Hi!

My name is Juan Hernandez, and I am 17 years old. I come from a regular nuclear family with 2.2 kids (my mother will strongly argue that I really do account for the extra .2 of a kid). Currently, I am in the struggle of my life deciding what major to focus on, and what college to attend, and basically what I want to do with the rest of my life. I love music, and I play the clarinet, and I hope to complete either a degree in music or a degree in music education, but I also want to complete a Bachelor's in general physics. I'm kind of complicated when it comes to learning, and I really don't want to be stuck doing the same thing for the rest of my life, which is why I want to teach. My philosophy about my sexual orientation is that it doesn't define me, but yet it really does. When I step into the outside world I don't really want people to see me as "the gay physics teacher," but more as "the physics teacher who happens to be gay." I love my family and I'm especially attached to my sister, who is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Recently I have struggled to believe that my sexuality was a gift from God, but I have found a lot of support from Soulforce and other organizations that accept my God-given sexuality as another of those traits I cannot control, such as my race and who birthed me. I've recently learned more about the power of my own soul, and how it can serve as a manual to life (and people said there wasn't one). Now I don't really believe in any religion, because religions are human creations, and instead I trust that God has passed on his holy spirit to all humanity, and the only mishaps that can occur are those that happen when we forget or decide not to listen to it. However, I still read the bible and study the message that God is trying to put out there through the scriptures.
I'm extremely glad to have found an organization that can support who I am and who everyone is despite their given differences.

[u-dog]

Hi!

My name is Juan Hernandez, and I am 17 years old. I come from a regular nuclear family with 2.2 kids (my mother will strongly argue that I really do account for the extra .2 of a kid). Currently, I am in the struggle of my life deciding what major to focus on, and what college to attend, and basically what I want to do with the rest of my life. I love music, and I play the clarinet, and I hope to complete either a degree in music or a degree in music education, but I also want to complete a Bachelor's in general physics. I'm kind of complicated when it comes to learning, and I really don't want to be stuck doing the same thing for the rest of my life, which is why I want to teach. My philosophy about my sexual orientation is that it doesn't define me, but yet it really does. When I step into the outside world I don't really want people to see me as "the gay physics teacher," but more as "the physics teacher who happens to be gay." I love my family and I'm especially attached to my sister, who is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Recently I have struggled to believe that my sexuality was a gift from God, but I have found a lot of support from Soulforce and other organizations that accept my God-given sexuality as another of those traits I cannot control, such as my race and who birthed me. I've recently learned more about the power of my own soul, and how it can serve as a manual to life (and people said there wasn't one). Now I don't really believe in any religion, because religions are human creations, and instead I trust that God has passed on his holy spirit to all humanity, and the only mishaps that can occur are those that happen when we forget or decide not to listen to it. However, I still read the bible and study the message that God is trying to put out there through the scriptures.
I'm extremely glad to have found an organization that can support who I am and who everyone is despite their given differences.

Welcome Juan! You sound like you have already been here for a while. glad that you have introduced yourself. Senior year is a fun and exciting time but also full of pressure and anxiety. Don't create more anxiety than necessary! College will be an exciting time of meeting new people, learning new things about the world and about yourself. Two of my sons went off to College last Fall and it was an amazing time for them. Don't sweat the future, it will unfold in front of you one day at a time and you'll be fine!

We look forward to hearing your ideas and perspectives.

[Jennifer5]

Welcome... glad to have you here.

All of you out there who have your lives so planned out scare me... I'm 16 and don't have the slightest clue about what my life will be like.

Don't rush it... Dave (u-dog) is right... life will happen.. and things will be fine. Do what you love, follow your heart! :love:


Welcome to the forums! Jump in when you feel comfortable... we've got a great group... make yourself at home.:)

[Zerbie]

Welcome Juan,

What a comprehensive introduction!

Look. If you pursue one field for now and later you wish to change, with energy and optimism like yours, you wil change fields if you wish. Music and the sciences sometimes tend to draw the same type of person. I once went out with a PhD astrophysicist who was an amateur violinist in the university orchestra. You might keep both loves in your life in a similar fashion.

I'm one of the musicians here, too. I :sing:

Your religious philosophy is right on track. I imagine wonderful things await you.

[u-dog]

Welcome Juan,

What a comprehensive introduction!

Look. If you pursue one field for now and later you wish to change, with energy and optimism like yours, you wil change fields if you wish. Music and the sciences sometimes tend to draw the same type of person. I once went out with a PhD astrophysicist who was an amateur violinist in the university orchestra. You might keep both loves in your life in a similar fashion.

I'm one of the musicians here, too. I :sing:

Your religious philosophy is right on track. I imagine wonderful things await you.


Zerb is right! keep all options open. I don't know what your financial situation is OR what your grade point average looks like but you should look very closely at the small Liberal Arts Colleges that are generously sprinkled across the the Midwest (and the whole country really) They tend to be expensive but they also tend to be generous with financial aid, both need-based and merit based.

One in particular that I would suggest you look at is St Olaf College in Northfield MN. http://www.stolaf.edu They are nationally known for their Music Education, choral and orchestral music programs, however their Biology, Chemistry, and other science departments are also first rate. If you don't mind being surrounded by blonde, blue-eyed Scandahoovians, its a wonderful place. It is a Lutheran (ELCA) school and seems to have a lively and vibrant spiritual life as well. They are quite selective academically so your academic credentials will need to reflect well on you but as in all things. Apply! let THEM tell YOU "no" don't do it for them.


PS: I forgot to mention that it seems to be a very open and welcoming and comfortable place for GLBT people. sexual orientation is specifically included in both their admissions and employment policies and there is an active GLBT support group there which is officially recognized by the College (so NO visits from Soulforce Equality ride in the foreseeable future!)

[tdogg]

Welcome to the Soulforce forums Juan!!

Glad you found your way here, it's a great place. Hope you stay around and share more about yourself. I too consider myself spiritual but not religious. Spiritual being my relationship with God, religion being a human creation to satisfy a lack of spirituality. Sounds more complicated than it feels in my mind! ;)

Anyways, a very warm welcome to you! :D

Tdogg

[antonyh]

My philosophy about my sexual orientation is that it doesn't define me, but yet it really does. When I step into the outside world I don't really want people to see me as "the gay physics teacher," but more as "the physics teacher who happens to be gay."

While sexual orientation is important, I don't think it defines us either...but society often makes this the number one identity label. This is one of the burdens we have to carry. It is an art to navigate the world with the inner attitude, "I happen to be gay."

[Latinbrops]

Hello Juan,

I just joined Soulforce and I must say that you seem to have a pretty good handle on things.

Its okay to worry about what college or what major but don't let the fear of the decision prevent you from making one. I went to 3 different colleges and changed my major several times. The reason I kept making changes was due in great part to the fact that as I learned more myself I would make changes to my life goals which required I change my major and eventually schools.

If there is one thing I have learned about life, is that it is filled with change. Change is good, change makes you grow. Don't be afraid to change course or direction.

Best Wishes

[JuanieH]

Woo. Thanks for all the kind wishes. I was actually at a band camp for the last two weeks and that's why I've been so silent, but it's nice to read all of your kind comments. I decided that I really have nothing to fear, but I'll still be a bit anxious about college.