Countdown

It's been a year-and-a-half-long journey to get to this point, but now, in one week, I'll pick up my life and drop it back down in a foreign country. I've never stepped foot in the Netherlands, but it's about to become my home for the next three years and hopefully longer. With a little luck, and my own hard work, it will be the threshold into a better life for myself and my family.

It's no secret the United States is a hostile place for queer and trans people. The difficulty lies in getting out when the culture is so very good at making escape feel impossible. I'll be emigrating in order to pursue a second university education, which will get me out of a dangerous situation and open the door to future citizenship.

Thank you for joining me on this expedition. I hope my journey can and will serve as inspiration for others just as desperate to change their situation. It's possible. You can do it.