April 10, 2024
N’dia Battle '25
Submitted by N'dia Battle
“Being a part of the LGBTQ+ Retreat for the first time was really rewarding. During 2020 I discovered that I was Bisexual. It was something that I struggled with for some time. I was in denial and I refused to come to terms with it until I was stuck in the house alone with my thoughts. I shared this part of me with my friends and they were accepting. However, I did not share this part of me with my family. When I came here to school I felt free to express myself now that I was away from family. I would attend CCEI events and PRIDE club events as well. Three years later in 2023 I started dating my partner who had been the first woman I had ever dated. It felt not only liberating but healthy and I was excited that I was able to express my love for them so openly. The events that the CCEI had put on made me feel comfortable to do so. When I went to the 2023 LGBTQ+ Retreat for the first time I felt even more comfortable to talk about my sexual identity. I was surrounded by many who could relate to my identity and my experiences and that was breathtaking. I had never been in such a setting before to talk about those areas of my identity except with my partner so to be able to share that experience with my peers was so freeing. During the retreat we did many fun activities like clay making and discussions on mental health and religion. I hope that many people can share the mutual freeing experience of expressing themselves having fun with their fellow LGBTQ+ peers.