Meet Drew

My name is Drew and I’m special.

From a very young age I knew I was different, special. I had this continuous feeling that I was gifted with something that others may not possess.

As I grew into my teens I was taught by the world around me that “different” was not acceptable nor good. Through those years I was bullied and verbally abused on a daily basis from my peers for being just that, “different”. I was an obese teenager, confused and ashamed with his sexual identity, the only Jewish family in our new neighborhood in the 70’s. Everyday from the ages of 11-16yrs I feared going to school because I knew the torment of being called a faggot, fatso, and continuous anti Semitic slurs.

I tried to make myself as quiet and small as possible so others wouldn’t notice me but they saw me. I eventually stopped going to school because of the pain and after a few weeks of absences, I was expelled and honestly, relieved.

It’s interesting as a 57 year old man who has over 30 years of therapy behind him, still sees and feels the little boy inside, the boy who’s spirit was filled with shame and hatred for himself. It’s taken a “lifetime” to understand that different is beautiful! That each one of us has a gift within ourselves just waiting to be freed, it’s what makes us each Special!!!

To all the young kids out there who have feelings of unworthiness, it really does get better!

Be you, all of you, uniquely you, unashamedly YOU!