I was lucky enough to grow up in a very loving house with my Mum, Dad and two sisters in Miramar. My childhood was all the things I think a good childhood should be, full of laughter and positivity. But from a young age I always had the feeling of being ‘different’. My sisters had their Cindy and Barbie dolls, and I just wanted my GI Joes and Action Man.
I was fortunate that my obvious skew from being a stereotypical ‘girl’ never affected the way Mum and Dad were with me, or my wider family and friend group, but the feeling of not being ‘right’ was always there.
As a young adult I had a pretty massive chip on my shoulder and I think this stemmed from those feelings. In hindsight I wish I had been brave enough to talk honestly and openly to someone about how I was feeling and the things that were troubling me. It would have been great to be able to see and hear from people ‘like me’, be that on the telly, in books, or in film.
When I became an early childhood teacher in the year 2000 I was passionate about wanting to help children to be proud of who they were as people, and to advocate for those that didn’t ‘fit the norm’. The rhetoric in education at the time was very much “we just want everyone to be treated the same, and to feel normal”.
As my experience grew I realised that I didn’t agree with this. What is so much more valuable, in my opinion, is that difference is seen as an asset. Diversity has the power to provide humanity with richness, tolerance, and acceptance. I reckon embrace your own and others’ differences, but know that you’re not alone. There will be people in uniquely similar boats to you.
I bottled things up and tried to just make everything ok for a long time. Talking to people and showing your vulnerability is a sign of massive strength. Who YOU are matters.
Karen O’Leary