glow.

It is usually difficult to build friendships with complete strangers in two days. But anything can happen. And those once strangers are now my friends. The closing ceremonies for SDLC took place on Friday night and it was the best way to spend a Friday night.
The closing ceremonies were the the most powerful testimonies I have ever witnessed. Teenagers,just like me, were speaking out,giving their thank-yous, but most importantly being honest. The silence in the room wasn't an awkward silence, an oppressed silence, an un-wanting silence but a silence that whispered the simple phrase "Brother ,Sister, I love you and I am with you". That phrase spread through 1,435 people and we truly were one. The emotions I felt , I cannot even begin to describe. All I know is that for maybe the second time in my life, things felt right , things felt okay, and I felt accepted.

So I guess I want to pose a question , and I want you to answer it honestly.
How many of us dim our light to fit in?
How many of us , just extinguish our light all together?
See, I am a candle. A beautiful, glowing,nice-scented candle. My light is a unique glow because my light is MY glow.
And though it may sway with the wind or go wild at times, it is my light and only one person can extinguish it ...me.
SDLC has helped me realize that it is okay to raise your voice and say "Man, that is not funny"
or "Chill out, that wasn't right". Because when talking about pressing issues or even just simple things everything is not funny and everything is not a joke. SDLC has taught me that it is okay to be comfortable with silence and just to listen. But most importantly, it is okay to stand up for what's not right because every time you stand up for something, someone in this world is thanking you and appreciating what you did.
As SDLC concluded, we rose our hands in the air and did the universal love sign.

We are one and when we leave , we will still be one..connected by a lot but especially connected by ...our glow.