Hello, my name is Robert. But that wasn't always my name. When I was born, my parents named me "Iris," as I was born female.

When I was about six or seven, they would take me to parties and church, where I would always wear party dresses and skirts. I hated it when people complimented me on my dresses, but most of all, I hated it when they spoke my name. At the time, I thought I was annoyed because I was shy or something. And I thought it was natural to hate my name. After all, maybe I was just tired of it.

Unfortunately, I reached puberty when I was only ten. I tried to convince myself that my huge chest didn't bother me. But one day, I looked down at my chest, and realized that although some anxiety was natural enough, it was extreme to cry in the shower just because I had a large chest.

One day, sobbing, I went to my mother and said, "Mommy, I'm a boy." She told me I might be transgender. I had a wide vocabulary, so I understood what she meant, agreeing with her completely. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring it up again and she thought it might be a phase or something.

Over the next two years, I began to doubt myself, thinking I might be bisexual. And when I was 12 – noticing that I liked bracelets and tinted Chapstick – I thought, "I can't be a boy.” So I determined that I was gender fluid. However, I soon realized that I should be reasonably happy as both genders if I was gender fluid, but I hated it when people labelled me a girl, or called me Iris. I thought I was gender fluid for two years until I realized I preferred he/him pronouns. This year, I began to call myself 'Robert'.

That’s my story in terms of chronology. But I haven't told you how difficult it is to be transgender. For instance, I used to sing, and I really like doing it. But my voice is high-pitched, which reminds me of my girl body. I would start crying when I attempted to sing, so I stopped taking lessons.

Before changing my name, I avoided people as much as possible so that I wouldn't hear she/her pronouns and 'Iris'. When my hair was long, I would look in the mirror and hate myself, not because I wasn't 'beautiful' as the girls at school wanted themselves to be; I was upset because I didn't look like the boy I knew myself to be. I had multiple panic attacks and would cry for hours.

When my mother noticed how upset I was, she let me cut my hair and get a chest binder. Soon after, I changed my name. But my gender dysphoria persisted. I couldn't wear my chest binder full time, and when I showered, I had to see all of myself. I refused to participate in after-school activities, because I knew everyone would see me as a girl. I'm also afraid that no one will want to date me. But that fear is dissolving as society learns to accept the LGBTQ+ community.

I really want to tell parents of transgender kids to accept them for who they are. There are so many haters in this world and your support makes a huge difference. Almost 50 percent of transgender kids attempt suicide before they turn 18. Support them, and they’re much more likely to stay strong.

For transgender individuals reading this, particularly teens, stay strong. Despite your pain, it's worth it to be yourself. It gives me hope when I see strong, young transgender people.

When I came out in high school – and everyone was supportive – I really knew the masses had become more accepting. I think you should come out as early as possible. When I have observed transgender people who came out young, they were bursting with confidence and happy. Parents, don't you want that for your child?

~ Robert, age 14