1 minute read
STUDENT’S VIEW
I told my friends, though, and when walking home one day in Middle School, I just blurted it out. In the following years, I realized I really didn’t like my name, and the old identity it represented.
During my Junior year, I put a lot of thought into a new name for myself, and I made a list of things that meant a lot to me and represented who I wanted to be. I looked into myths and legends, space and the stars. Being fascinated by crows, I also looked into things related to them. I found that Corvus is a star, as well as the real name for crows.
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I found that Rook can refer to crows too, as crows have been interpreted as a symbol of death, and the transformation from the physical to the spiritual world. However, in spiritual language, death really represents change, transition, transformation and new beginnings.
Adopting my new name gave me even greater confidence to be who I really am. With this confidence, I joined the Drama department of my High school where I’ve represented the LGBTQ+ community in theater and encouraged others to be themselves.
I’m glad this nomination is about being myself and the little things I’ve done to try and make my community a better and safer place. I hope that my story, and stories from the other nominees that might be told at the ceremony will help others see they can find themselves too.
I hope you’ll join me at the 26th Annual Queer Youth Leadership Awards (QYLA) on Saturday, May 13 at New Brighton Middle School in Capitola at 5:30pm where we will all be honored and celebrated as nominees along with our allies.
Corvinrook Champion, he/him/his and they/them/theirs, is a senior at Scotts Valley High School and part of the LGBTQIA+ community in theater. As an openly queer, transgender, and asexual student, Corvinrook inspires peers to stand up against prejudice.
Three awards are presented at the ceremony, the Queer Youth Leadership Award, the Ally to Queer Youth Award, and the Organizational Ally to Queer Youth Award. To read about all of the 2023 nominees and learn more about the awards ceremony, visit QYLA.org or call (831) 427-4004.
