My heart jumped, then thudded, as I faced my fears and the door to Room 207 at Los Altos High School. Ultimately, I was happy I’d written the essay — and was happy I was going to be talking about it at the high school. Telling the truth meant risking ridicule, rejection and/or embarrassment — especially in front of high school students. Courtesy of Perla LunaClutching my marked-up essay in one hand, and reaching for the doorknob with the other, I headed into that high school classroom… and my deepening vulnerability. This year I returned to Los Altos High School to talk about my article again, only this time I had far less fear.

Source: Huffington Post November 14, 2025 14:13 UTC