Fuel Zoe's Volunteer Trip to Camp Mulberry

Hi, my name is Zoe (she/her) and I'm raising funds to cover travel costs from Michigan to California and back again to be a volunteer camp counselor at The Laurel Foundation's Camp Mulberry, a cost-free camp program specifically for transgender and gender diverse youth.

About Camp Mulberry:

From The Laurel Foundation's website [here]: "The Laurel Foundation’s Camp Mulberry is the nation’s first cost-free resident camp program specifically for transgender and gender diverse youth, ages 6-17. This camp is an amazing experience for youth looking for a safe space to be their most authentic selves, create a life-long peer support group, and enjoy traditional outdoor camp experiences – such as kayaking, rock climbing, archery, and more!"

How I Will Use Your Donation:

The donations I receive for this will be used towards travel costs and lodging costs if necessary to and from Camp Mulberry and my place of residence in Michigan. This will include necessary meals, necessary lodging, airfare, ride sharing services, and associated charges/fees. Any amount that is not used towards these costs, I will be donating to The Laurel Foundation.

About Me:

I am a 29-year-old transgender woman from Michigan. I am a Michigan Tech alum, an engineer, a guitarist, a singer, a songwriter, a content creator, an ADHD haver, a cancer survivor, a poet, a tinkerer, and someone who appreciates the value and beauty in how abundant each person's identity is.

I grew up in a small farm town in Michigan, with little LGBTQ+ visibility. At 12, I was diagnosed with Burkitt's Lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy. Fortunately, I have been cancer-free since then. However, I struggled with depression and anxiety in high school. Music became my outlet; I joined the marching band, learned electric bass, and later acoustic guitar. Falling behind academically, I completed two and a half years of work in one year through an online high school, and I was accepted into Michigan Tech for Mechanical Engineering.

Michigan Tech was transformative for me. I became independent, formed meaningful connections, and excelled academically, graduating summa cum laude. I interned at Harley Davidson and Ford Motor Company and held leadership roles as a peer mentor and orientation team leader (OTL). These roles allowed me to support first-year students and foster an inclusive atmosphere. Importantly, I learned about gender identity and the LGBTQ+ community, which helped me understand and accept my transgender identity. In my last year, I began my medical transition.

After graduating, I moved to Minnesota with my fiancé and started working as a manufacturing engineer. However, due to the stress of adjusting to life after college and difficulty with healthcare, I discontinued my HRT after six months. A year later, my mother passed away from breast cancer, prompting us to move back to Michigan to live with my father. During this period, I struggled with depression but eventually returned to work as an IT analyst and moved into our own place. Gaining some independence and finding a supportive therapist, I resumed my medical transition about a year later while starting a new job as a Product Design Engineer. Since early 2022, I have been steadily progressing in my medical transition.

As I continued my transition, I realized I could no longer present as someone I wasn't. Coming out to my biological family had mixed reactions, leading to estrangement. Eventually, I left my job to pursue my own business and to find a safer environment. After moving to a new city at the end of 2022, my relationship with my fiancé ended. With few options, a friend from my previous job offered me a place to stay, which became a turning point for regaining stability. Coming out online and in daily life in February 2023, I started living authentically. I built a supportive community on TikTok, began writing poetry and music, and now look forward to the future with renewed hope and confidence.

Reflecting on my past experiences, I've realized how much fulfillment I found in my roles as an OTL and peer mentor at Michigan Tech. Helping others acclimate to life changes, seeing them forge friendships, and watching them grow brought me immense joy. Creating an inclusive and supportive atmosphere was deeply rewarding, and I’ve carried that passion into my TikTok page, where I strive to create a safe space for others. Furthermore, I’m incredibly excited to bring that passion to Camp Mulberry.

I often think about how different my life might have been if I had access to supportive environments like Camp Mulberry when I was younger. Knowing that being transgender was okay and having trans role models could have eased much of the sadness and loneliness I felt. Today, the political climate makes being trans even more challenging, especially for youth. This drives my determination to provide them with the support and acceptance they deserve, helping them navigate their journey with less fear and more confidence.