so i wanted to share some thoughts and maybe hear from others about dealing with gender identity while in college. i'm a sophomore now, and it’s been a journey. i came out as non-binary last year, and it was both freeing and terrifying. at first, i was worried about how people would react, especially my friends and professors. some folks have been super supportive, while others, not so much. i've had to correct people on pronouns more times than i can count, but i’m learning to be patient. one thing that really helped was finding a campus LGBTQ+ group. it’s a safe space where i can just be myself and share experiences with others who get it. also, attending workshops and events on gender and identity has been eye-opening. anyone else out there navigating this? would love to hear how others have found ways to balance identity and academics. any tips for dealing with the less supportive folks? 😅

On 11/19/2025 at 4:45 PM, SunnyDaySeeker said:

so i wanted to share some thoughts and maybe hear from others about dealing with gender identity while in college. i'm a sophomore now, and it’s been a journey. i came out as non-binary last year, and it was both freeing and terrifying. at first, i was worried about how people would react, especially my friends and professors. some folks have been super supportive, while others, not so much. i've had to correct people on pronouns more times than i can count, but i’m learning to be patient. one thing that really helped was finding a campus LGBTQ+ group. it’s a safe space where i can just be myself and share experiences with others who get it. also, attending workshops and events on gender and identity has been eye-opening. anyone else out there navigating this? would love to hear how others have found ways to balance identity and academics. any tips for dealing with the less supportive folks? 😅

It sounds like you’re really navigating this with a lot of courage, and that mix of freedom and fear is something I totally get. I also found that having a community, like your campus LGBTQ+ group, made a huge difference—not just for support but for grounding myself when things felt overwhelming. Correcting pronouns can definitely get exhausting, but patience with others (and yourself) is key. Some folks just need time to adjust.

One thing that helped me was finding a professor who was openly supportive and letting them know my pronouns early on. It made class feel safer and sometimes encouraged others to follow suit. Also, don’t hesitate to lean into those workshops and events—they’re great for learning how to handle the tougher conversations. You’re doing great, and it’s okay to take it one step at a time.