When I was born the doctors took the cursory look between my legs and decided that I was a boy. What a way to decide the future path of a child's development!
I was a clever little girl and quite a good actress. I saw very quickly that if I did not conform to the prescribed norm for a boy then I would be living in a world of pain each and every day. I didn't always succeed. One aunt frequently called me a lassyboy because of something I'd done or the way I'd said something. I would often be asked in shops "What can I get ye lass?" It made me feel good to be recognised, but I had to act all flustered if there was anyone else in the shop. I would also get bullied quite a bit and I think that is when I started being introverted.
Throughout primary school I was always first in the class. In secondary school I was still in the top 10 out of an intake of approximately 250 and I sailed through my O-grades without studying. Unfortunately, puberty had hit and now the differences between boys and girls were becoming major. I hated it. I wanted to die. Well, no; I actually wanted to wake up as a proper girl, but the other option was to die. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!
Fortunately my redemption was close to fruition and at 18 I started the process of ditching my alter-ego.
