Being different in high school is no picnic, as we are almost constantly being told that we need to be just like everyone else. We separate ourselves into groups before we really get to know anything about one another, as we search for the place we fit in. Not only do we divide our school communities into these smaller groups, we also implement a social hierarchy which usually places athletic prowess before intelligence before those who just don’t seem to fit anywhere.

Alexander Halsey-Keaton is only twelve years old but he is already proving that being different is not, by any stretch of the imagination, a terrible thing. In fact, he takes all of his differences, and the hardships he’s faced, in his stride and hopes that he will, one day, improve the way we all live. I’m lucky enough to know Alex, who comes from my home-town in Louisiana, and he agreed to this interview with me.

James:  What kind of things do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Alex:  I like playing with my Pokemon and video games. I read comic books, too. Spiderman’s my favorite.  I work in a skateboard shop too and, ’cause I’ve graduated high school, I can work the same amount as adults work, which is kinda cool. I play basketball and go skating a lot. I’m learning to heel-flip. It’s real hard but I’m gonna get it

 

James: You seem pretty determined about that. Are there other things you really want to achieve?

Alex:  Yeah, I really wanna be a cop when I’m old enough, just like all my dads were cops. My first dad, he was the best cop ever. I’m gonna help keep people safe and I’m gonna make sure all the bad guys learn that being bad is wrong.

 

James: So, you’re currently studying for a BSc in Mathematics. What’s it like being in college when you’re so much younger than everyone else there?

Alex: It’s a bit weird ‘cause they’re all doing grown-up stuff like drinking alcohol and going to parties and I don’t do any of that. Some of them think I’m real strange ‘cause I’m younger, too, but I just like Math. I don’t think it’s that odd. Some people are good at drawing and dancing and writing poems and stuff but I’m good at Math and Music.

 

James: You mentioned having more than one dad. Could you tell us a little bit more about your families?

Alex: I used to live with my mama, my dad and my big brother, Steven, but then some bad people who were mad at my dad hit our car and then they died so I had to go live with a load of other kids ‘cause my uncle didn’t want me but the people there were mean so I ran away. I got another family but they left town so I ran away again and then another policeman took me in and he was gonna adopt me. He went missing and everyone said he’s dead. I ran away and found my dad from before in Maryland. I got real lucky finding him there!

 

James:  Why did your uncle refuse to take you in after the loss of your family?

Alex: It’s ’cause I’m a boy but I have a girl body. He said that I’m bad and he don’t want me ‘round my cousins no more ‘cause mama and dad said I can change my name and wear boy clothes and play with boy stuff. He said girls can’t turn into boys and boys can’t turn into girls and it’s wrong to try. That’s why the people at the home were nasty to me too. I think he’s wrong but that’s okay ‘cause he’ll realize someday that I’m not bad just ‘cause I’m different from him.

 

James: Is there anything else you’d like to tell other young people?

Alex: Yeah. I think it’s okay to be different from other people ‘cause if we were like everyone else then it’d be a real boring world. I never would’a got to do loads of the fun stuff I’ve done, like helping arrest bad people or getting to travel all over, if I was like everyone else and, when people are mean to me ‘bout being different, now I just try to ignore them ‘cause being different isn’t a bad thing.

 

Alex has clearly embraced all of his differences and the challenges that the world has thrown his way and there is no reason we can’t learn to do the same. Growing up in a world where people are encouraged to be the same can be very difficult but the struggle to stay true to ourselves and find our own identity makes us stronger as individuals. We need to embrace not just our own differences, but those of people around us, rather than shunning them for who they are or how they express themselves. Who’d want to live in a world where only one type of food was allowed? I certainly wouldn’t, so let’s not try to make this a world that allows only one type of person.

(Alex) A.J. Keaton-Thorpe
(James) James Charming-Stone