Scott Alvarez

Grew up in Kansas. I lived in Overland Park before my mother decided that she wanted us kids to grow up in a small town instead of the big city. We moved to Linwood KS when I was 4 and started school there. I guess that was good because if I would have stayed in Overland Park I would have gone to Catholic shool like my big sister.

I was in Linwood until my 8th grade year. I try hard to forget my time in Linwood. I never had a very happy childhood there. I never felt like I fit in and there was limited people my age to get to know. My class while in Linwood was myself and about 12 other kids. At the time K-12 was in one building. Now that is small.

Midde of my 8th grade year we finally sold our house to my dad’s brother and we left for the bigger town of Eudora. As far as I was concerned Eudora was just a bigger version of Linwood. It was during this time that I started to come to grips that I was gay. Needless to say tring to cope with being gay and living in a small town where everyone knows your business was very stressful. My junior year I tried to commit suicide. After that I decided I could not handle being in such a small town so I transferred to Olathe North HS in Olathe, KS.

This was the best move I ever made. I was in a very large High School and I finally felt like I fit in. I was in musical theater and I found my love for photography which continues to this day. I graduated from ONHS and took the next year off. I had the oppertunity to travel to Germany and stay with a friend I had made while he was an exchange student in Kansas. I loved the country and it was the first time I had spent any real time away from my family. I know at this point I could make it on my own.

I came back and attended Johnson County Community College. On my sisters 18th birthday she and I was in a car accident and she passed away. I muddled my way though JCCC and finally went on to the University of Kansas where I majored in Education. I left KU short of graduation and went into the IT field. Then the internet bubble popped and I was left without a job and a degree.

Currently I am working as a Target Team Member here in Topeka.

During the last 10 years I have spent my life with my husband Shane.