Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I feel transitioning has saved my life to this day. Before it all, was in the dumps trying to fit in as one of the guys that did not work at times. Did not open up about it when I was a kid and my parents were concerned all the time.

I remember saying I was that I was a girl to myself several times laying in bed before going to bed. It was during my high school years things were starting to fall apart in my life.

It was after high school during my college years at age 20, met someone in one of my classes that was like me. I learned she was transgender and she was a great help to me finally coming out with a friendship that started. We are friends to this day.

Got to know her and asked how she knew she was transgender and her story of trying to fit in was like mine coming out during her senior of high school a day before her 18th birthday. Told me it was not easy at first and she said it was relief after she came out.

Looked at me and gave me the advice on doing it, seen I was struggling from the inside too. One was be myself and do not let anyone hold me back doing. It helped and she that is when I decided to transition and she surprised me, finally decided to transition too.

Was living and dressing as female. Said to me let's do this together. Everything came back, my self confidence and self esteem. That person I was before was gone for life.

I moved in with this friend of mine as her roommate into my 3rd month of my transition and we supported each other. My family does agree it saved my life too including this friend of mine.

Dear Nikki,

Reading what you shared tonight, what struck me most was how clearly you've known yourself all along — even in those years when you didn't have the language, support, or safety to say it out loud. That little voice you remember from childhood, the one that said *"I'm a girl,"* didn't disappear. It waited for you. And when the world finally gave you enough space to breathe, you listened.

I'm really glad you told the part about meeting that friend in college. So many of us find that first lifeline in someone who has walked a similar road. The two of you recognizing yourselves in each other, supporting one another, and stepping into transition side by side — that is something powerful. That kind of friendship becomes a kind of chosen family, and it sounds like she showed up for you in exactly the moment you needed someone to say, "You are not alone, and you don't have to keep hurting."

The way you describe the change — your confidence returning, your self-esteem coming back to life, the old version of you fading because she was never truly you — that is what living in our true sex looks like. You didn't become someone new. You finally stopped hiding the person you always were.

And you're right: for so many of us, transitioning doesn't just *improve* life. It saves it. Your family seeing that truth now only confirms what you already knew in your bones — that stepping into yourself was the moment everything began to heal.

I'm so glad you're still here. And I'm really glad you shared this. You never know who might read it and feel that same spark of recognition you once felt in that classroom, the moment that changed everything.

With warmth,
Susan

Quote from: Susan on November 20, 2025, 10:46:31 PMDear Nikki,

Reading what you shared tonight, what struck me most was how clearly you've known yourself all along — even in those years when you didn't have the language, support, or safety to say it out loud. That little voice you remember from childhood, the one that said *"I'm a girl,"* didn't disappear. It waited for you. And when the world finally gave you enough space to breathe, you listened.

I'm really glad you told the part about meeting that friend in college. So many of us find that first lifeline in someone who has walked a similar road. The two of you recognizing yourselves in each other, supporting one another, and stepping into transition side by side — that is something powerful. That kind of friendship becomes a kind of chosen family, and it sounds like she showed up for you in exactly the moment you needed someone to say, "You are not alone, and you don't have to keep hurting."

The way you describe the change — your confidence returning, your self-esteem coming back to life, the old version of you fading because she was never truly you — that is what living in our true sex looks like. You didn't become someone new. You finally stopped hiding the person you always were.

And you're right: for so many of us, transitioning doesn't just *improve* life. It saves it. Your family seeing that truth now only confirms what you already knew in your bones — that stepping into yourself was the moment everything began to heal.

I'm so glad you're still here. And I'm really glad you shared this. You never know who might read it and feel that same spark of recognition you once felt in that classroom, the moment that changed everything.

With warmth,
Susan

She did and taught me a lot, is a pre op like me and happily married to her 2nd husband whom loves and accepts her for who she is. Her ex husband made her get the SRS and was a dirtbag to her. She does have two daughters that she adopted whom are transgender now 16, adopted them 2 years ago after their parents and families rejected them after coming out.