I Am Who I Am: My story as a transgender Vanderbilt student-athlete | Vanderbilt News

One of the most positive things about sports is how it brings people together. As a member of the Vanderbilt women’s bowling team, I have teammates from Australia, Russia, Singapore, New York, New Jersey and New Mexico, just to name a few. But when we step onto the lanes, we are all one, we are all Commodores.

I know that same feeling of unity extends to our fan base. At a time when our politics are so polarized, when we individually choose exactly what we want to watch on Netflix or listen to on our phones, sports is one of the few areas of our society where people from widely divergent backgrounds can come together to share a common experience.

It is as a member of Commodore Nation, understanding that we share a love for the Black and Gold but may view other aspects of life differently, that I am choosing to tell my story today, National Transgender Visibility Day, as a Commodore, a human being, and a member of the transgender community. Every person’s story is different. I’m not speaking for all trans people, just telling my own story in hopes that it will help lead to a better understanding of a topic that most people have very little knowledge about.