The Beginning of Me

November 2013 | Publishers Weekly Cover Feature"As I began my journey into adulthood, I realized the persona of what I was led to believe a man should be was a standard I could not meet. I believed in God, but I did not believe in me. I felt fear. I felt anxiety. I felt insecure. And I could tell no one about it. Instead, I began to write my feelings down in the form of poetry on scraps of paper. This process helped me to be honest with myself about who I saw in the mirror. As you read through, maybe it can help you, too." - Eric Christopher Jackso