Reaching Out with Emily Sklar

What a special episode we have this week, featuring an old friend of mine from college, Emily Sklar (she/her)!

Okay, Emily and I go all the way back to freshman year of college when we met in the greek system at Michigan State. I was her sorority’s bus boy all throughout college and we both think this is the first time we’ve caught up “in person” since.

In most of the stories we’ve had on the show thus far, our guests have shared their journey towards coming out or towards the realization of what their particular self-identity is. Emily’s story is so beautiful and relatable because she is still in the process of figuring things out – which, how relatable is that in regards to the queer experience? We’ve all been there, just in our own ways.

Emily tells us how she currently identifies with being on the ace, or asexuality, spectrum and that she, as of right now, doesn’t have the desire to have sexual relationships or date anyone regardless of their gender. She also talks candidly and authentically about how the thought of committing to one identity today is intimidating because what if that changes or evolves over time?

She shares experiences in the past, beginning as a freshman in college – in the very sorority in which I cleaned her dishes for years – where she realized that she was on a different path than other girls her age.

This story is perfect for anyone who is on that never-ending quest towards evolving into their most authentic self or has felt that perpetual feeling that they’re different but aren’t really sure where they fit in.

It also serves as a great reminder that your current experience right now is a valid one, and just because you identify as one way now does not mean you can’t evolve in the future – besides, shouldn’t we all be actively trying to do that anyways?

I’m so grateful to Emily for sharing her vulnerability and story with us.

Take a listen.

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Episode Links:

• Emily's Instagram: @itsemilyonair
• Emily's Twitter: @itsemilyonair
• Emily's TikTok: @itsemilyonair
• "My Story of Pride" article that Emily mentioned in the interview

Follow along with Reaching Out:

• Podcast's Instagram: @reachingoutpod
• Podcast's Twitter: @reachingoutpod
• Michael's Instagram: @michaelwingsit