That's What I Am

In 1965, at Jefferson Middle School in California, Andy Nichol and Stanley Minors are assigned to work together on a school project. This marks the beginning of an unexpected and life-changing friendship between the well-adjusted Andy and the school's outcast, Big G.

As Andy and Stanley begin their project, whispers about their teacher, Mr. Steven Simon, circulate throughout the school. The rumors suggest Mr. Simon may be homosexual, leading to a series of escalating tensions among the students and faculty.

Jason Freel, the school's bully, takes it upon himself to relay the damaging rumors about Mr. Simon to his father. This gossip reaches the principal, who approaches Mr. Simon to confront him about the accusations, highlighting the impact of hearsay on professional lives.

Amidst the building discord, Jason's father threatens Mr. Simon with public exposure of the alleged rumors, placing his reputation on the line. This intensifies the atmosphere at the school, as fear and uncertainty settle over the previously peaceful environment.

As school life progresses, Andy finds himself romantically drawn to Mary Clear, the girl of his dreams. Their relationship blossoms when Mary expresses her feelings for Andy, bringing joy to his life amidst the surrounding chaos.

Ricky Brown, Mary's ex-boyfriend and the school bully, confronts Andy, delivering a chilling warning that he will face dire consequences if he pursues Mary. This moment adds to the challenges Andy must navigate as he seeks to protect their budding relationship.

Despite the intimidation, Andy bravely asks Mary to be his girlfriend, and to his delight, she agrees just as Ricky arrives on the scene. As tensions rise, Mary steps in to defend Andy, asserting her autonomy and demanding Ricky to leave them alone.

Stanley discovers his hidden talent and decides to participate in the school's annual talent show, much to the dismay of his skeptical best friend, Norman. Despite Norman's doubts, Stanley is determined to follow his passion and showcase his abilities.

On the night of the talent show, Andy realizes that Norman is not attending to support Stanley. He makes a visit to Norman's house, persuading him to join the event and show camaraderie for their friend, illustrating the importance of friendship.

As Stanley prepares for his performance, Ricky plots to ruin it by throwing a tomato at him. However, Andy bravely intervenes, deflecting the tomato and protecting Stanley, which goes unnoticed by the audience but earns him Mr. Simon's praise.

With the school year ending, Andy learns that Mr. Simon is moving to Florida for a fresh start. Andy pleads for him to stay, showing the profound respect and admiration he has for his teacher who drastically influenced his life.

In appreciation of Mr. Simon's impact, Andy and his classmates organize a heartfelt send-off by filling Mr. Simon's car with flowers. This gesture reflects their gratitude and the strong bond formed during the tumultuous school year.

As the school year concludes, the yearbook captures the essence of their experiences, highlighting the growth and changes each student underwent. This final artifact serves as a bittersweet token of their time at Jefferson Middle School.