Heyy Everyone =)

It is an honor to start writing for the Campus Pride Blog, one of my favorite ways to advocate is to just pick up a pen and start writing, in this case start typing. My name is Jonny (yes, without an 'h'), for the last twenty-one years I have grown up on Long Island in New York State. I currently go to the University at Albany, where I am studying Environmental Sciences and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies. Transferring to Albany gave me the jump to actively participate in a new location of the LGBT movement setting that is different where I grew up. Now at Albany I have the opportunity to excel because of my position as Vice President at my University’s, LGBTA group, the Pride Alliance.

I got a chance of a lifetime to go to attend a leadership camp called 'Campus Pride Leadership Camp' which was a five day conference setting that was open to all student leaders nation-wide, it was hosted by Towson University. The experiences and people I have met there, faculty along with other students alike, were as if nothing similar to what I have ever seen or been near. Over sixty active student leaders, traveling to Maryland from California, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, and Texas; even a student originally from South Africa! Over the short weeklong camp, the time I have spent with other campers got me to appreciate, learn, laugh and grow as a human being to striving for change on my campus as well as the several communities that I live in.