#communityjournal

Text reads: “You don’t owe a disclosure of your identity to anyone. You are who you are with or without external validation. If it’s not safe for you to be out, you don’t have to be out. If you don’t want to be out, you don’t have to be out. Not being out doesn’t mean that you are not queer. You are yourself, with or without the validation of others, and that’s the best thing you can be.”

Text Reads:  Do what you need to do for you. Creating space away from negative experiences. Having chosen family. Defining self-care in your own way. Expressing your glorious self in what feels most comfortable for you. Creating your own path to self-love and affirmation. Asking for, and defining what help is, and when you need it.

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This is a featured post by Kelly Chung, a McGill University graduate in Organismal Biology and East Asian Studies. She currently is a research technician at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Did I get kicked out of school? No. Do I have your attention? Yes.

I graduated from McGill University in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Organismal Biology and East Asian Studies, so I am no longer a student. In other words, I am an ex-student. (Sorry to disappoint those looking for a spicy story about getting kicked out of school.)

The status of an ex-student is an interesting one. For the first time in my life, I had no idea what my next step or goal should be. In elementary school, the goal was to get to middle school; in middle school, to get to high school; in high school, to get into a good college; and finally, in college, to graduate. Shaped by my parents’ wishes and the culture around me, it didn’t really feel like I had a choice.

But (thankfully) I graduated, and there was suddenly a world of possibilities before me in terms of career. I continually wondered, what was God’s will for me and my life? And how will I know? As much as I wanted to feel God push me into a specific direction so I would know with certainty that I was walking the right path, I heard nothing from Him. Was I not sincere enough in my prayers? Did I not desire for God’s will to be done as much as I thought I did? Or was I simply not a good enough Christian?

As someone with no experience, no qualifications, and a mediocre academic record, I expected my job search to last months at least. I didn’t have the foresight or motivation to find summer internships during college, and I didn’t even have any interview practice. I had almost nothing going for me.

And yet, within minutes of emailing my resume to one lab, I received an invitation to my first interview for the next morning.

And yet, although I was competing with several other candidates, I was asked for letters of recommendation by the end of the next week.

And yet, in spite of my doubts and insecurities, I was offered the job.

And yet, despite my hasty acceptance of the job offer without consideration of the work environment, the lab members are so kind to me, and it is a joy for me to work with them.

God poured blessings upon blessings upon blessings upon me despite my disbelief in both my own abilities and in His power.

Text reads: “If you are going through a hard time, please know that there are people who love and support you. You may not have met them yet but they are out there and you will be glad to meet them when you do.”

The 519 is starting a new project for community support! We are asking that people can send in supportive and affirming messages for folks in the community who might be experiencing isolation or are in need of a reminder that they are loved.

Words have a lot of power and these ones are reminders of the resiliency of LGBTQ folks. They are from the queer community, for the queer community.

Messages can be for the community, to your past self, something that you need to hear now, or something that you want to say to someone else. Messages can be as long or short as you’d like. They will be posted on The 519’s tumblr account and may be sent out through twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All messages will be kept anonymous.

Text reads: “1. When you feel free to be you is when you know you have found a community that loves and respects you for you. 2. Never wonder about a situation or a person when you can just ask. Sometimes I just want to be. Saying hello isn't asking a lot of anyone. Greet somebody and make their day!”

The 519 is starting a new online project! The Queer Community Journal will be an online space where supportive messages from the community will be posted for LGBTQ people who are in need of some support.

Submit messages about resiliency, affirmation, love, and solidarity and we will post them online for folks in the community to read! Messages can be for the community, to your past self, something that you need to hear now, or something that you want to say to someone else.

Words and stories have power. Send in yours as a way of offering support to the community.

Text reads: Your chosen family is as valid as any other family. You are allowed to choose who you are around and if you need to distance yourself from someone for a while, that’s okay. You need to be able to take care of yourself.

This is a featured post by Maryanne Loughran, she just finished her first year at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI! She is potentially majoring in Social Work and minoring in Psychology. She enjoys the summertime, long car rides, and coffee shops. She wants to travel and see the world. 

I think that if I had to sum up all the lessons I’ve learned into one word, that word would be wait.

Four letters. One small word. Sounds easy, oh..but think again. If anything, waiting is probably one of the hardest things to do, especially waiting on God.

“Where are you God? Why aren’t you coming through for me? Where are you when I need you? What are you calling me to do?” These questions flood my mind on the daily and I begin towards a cycle of analyzing and overthinking every possible thing. More than once, when I couldn’t hear God’s voice, I’d jump to my own conclusions and put it upon myself to take the reigns and carve out my own path.

However I’d always end up getting confused, frustrated and stressed out because usually I had no idea what in the world I was doing. I’d get carried away in my own thoughts and plans and I wouldn’t even give Him the time of day that He deserved. Soon enough though, my precious Savior would pull me back and remind me that my trust in Him is needed for Him to come through for me. I had to learn countless times to let go of my control despite how hard or painful it was and trust that He will provide for me even when I cannot see what’s happening.

Even though it might not seem like God is listening, or that He’s forgotten about you, know that He is still there and that He is faithful and good. God has bigger plans in mind than what we see and all that He’s asking of you is to know and trust in His Word.

Here are some really great articles that have helped me this year, take a look if you’d like! :)

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/features/25995-making-the-most-of-the-meantime

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/blog/22616-what-it-means-to-wait-on-the-lord