As the sun set, a slight chill filled the air on this October evening, only noticeable due to the misty clouds cast into the air with each exhale of excited cheers. The sound of those cheers can undoubtedly be heard across two counties as it pierces the night air, mixed with the adrenaline-inducing tunes of an award-winning marching band. If they aren't able to hear us, they certainly notice the glow streaming in from the strategically placed towers purposefully outfitted with rows of oversized fluorescent bulbs that force daylight into the night sky. Eventually, as the crowd's excitement reached a decibel loud enough to cause a dull ringing in the ear, a parade of men in blue shirts burst into the stadium across the field. It must be Friday evening here in Madisonville, Texas. Anyone who has ever watched the popular sitcom or movie hit Friday Night Lights knows life in Small-town, Texas – conservative traditions accompanied by conservative values ​​and very little room for outside influence. From childhood, we begin to master the same conservative values ​​from our parents, just as they learned them from their parents. Most never think to question these values ​​as we strive to conform to acceptable guidelines to avoid being seen as “different.” Being perceived as such comes with the guarantee of being an outcast from society, constantly ridiculed. Naturally, it is virtually unheard of for someone to act in a way that would intentionally result in such a perception. It seems like every new school year is met with a new face of two snakes in the hallways, clearly not used to Small-town, Texas. A particular new face at the start of my freshman year of high school would be...... middle of paper...... the perception of an individual. Sometimes additional efforts are necessary, but they usually don't go beyond opening lines of communication. As I enter my senior year of high school here in Madisonville, Texas, I am proud to report that Jason is no longer the victim of ridicule or bullying. He and I may not be close friends, but I will always be grateful to him for what he allowed me to learn about myself without ever telling me. It is because of him that I can embrace with pride that I was able to find the courage to live the teachings of Muhammed Ghandi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Without this courage, I would have deprived many of my closest friends of the experience of accepting something new and different, and of the rewards of developing a friendship with someone they would never have considered worthy of their conversation..