#ThisIsMeProject

This is the official blog for the “#ThisIsMe” Project! Over the course of however long it takes, I will be doing a photo series that documents people and their stories.

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In case any of y'all was wondering what happened to my project, do not worry because I definitively have NOT stopped! School has be top priority right now along with my job, but with next week being finals I can truly get back to focusing on this project throughout the summer so definitley expect to see this continue! I am absolutely blessed with the amount of support I have gotten on this project and blessed that so many people want to be a part of it! I know I haven't reached out to everyone yet but I will when I get life together (after next week) and we're going to make this happen! Your story will be told! Thank you. Thank YOU!

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“ I remember in middle school I was sitting and watching the overhead, minding my own business and the kid in front of me turned around and asked, ‘Do you have a neck?’. I said, ‘Yeah, I’m just sitting weird.’ From that day on, I kept wishing I had a defined neck. I felt like a freak.

I’ve embraced the term freak now. I’m surrounded by people who don’t put me down. I’m surrounded by friends who genuinely appreciate me. I’ve found people who love my ‘freak’ and I’m starting to love it as well.” - Sylvana U.

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“Maybe I am small. But I realize that it’s a strength because it really builds and heightens the better and more important things of myself. Return to who you are rather than strive to be anyone else.”  - Christopher Badillo Jr.

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"Stop putting emphasis on material things. Put an emphasis on human beings because that’s what makes life worth living; loving people for who they are. You are enough.” - Emily S.

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The purpose of the ‪#‎ThisIsMe‬ project is to have people outline on their bodies how society makes them feel about themselves, whether it's through shape, size, sexuality, color, religion, etc. For most of my life, this exactly how society has made me feel, with special regards to being gay and my weight. Then contrast the pressures of society with a word/message of strength that signifies how you want to feel or how you make yourself feel about YOU. What you see of me is my personal struggle: As a plus size male, I never see ANY positive representation of the male body in any size besides tall, white and fit. There is an immense lack of conversation of body issues for men and I'm tired of waiting for someone to start it. I'm tired of waiting for another plus size male to tell me that I'm worth it and I'm tired of society and much of the gay community telling me that I'm not. So I'm telling myself: I Am Worth It.