"I do think transitioning is a part of this story — it’s not the story, but it’s definitely a part of it. I felt a lack of empowerment being perceived in public, there were always these stares, all these nonconsensual interactions where I wasn’t able to respond. Standup was this stage where I had the mic, and it’s a one way conversation, and I talk and you listen. If I walk around the world having to take the brunt of this energy of not feeling safe, what would it feel like if I was onstage and I got to be a mirror and show what that experience is like to the audience? I do feel like it’s always done in a way where I do have care for the audience. I’m trying to engage, I really am connecting, I want that connection. That is a question for me — how much do I want to connect? How do I want to connect? How authentic do I want to be in those connections?"⁠ ⁠ — @norireed on pursuing comedy, in conversation with @amybethsol for Jr Hi the Magazine. ⁠ ⁠ Photography @las.margarittaville⁠ Assisted by @shotbymaria⁠ MUA @trippychickmakeup⁠ Styling @itskori⁠ ⁠ Visit juniorhighla.com/themag for the full feature⁠ ⁠ #jrhithemag #jrhithemagazine