We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of saying to the world who we are.

As the host and creator of the beloved children’s show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Fred Rogers tackled important topics such as friendship, expressing difficult emotions, and being part of a community. One of his most persistent messages was that being different is a gift, not something to be afraid of. He made waves at the height of the civil rights movement when, during one 1969 episode, he and Officer Clemmons (a character played by Francois Clemmons, a Black and gay actor) soaked their feet in the same kiddie pool, underlining their friendship despite differing backgrounds. Rogers’ legacy offers a reminder to the child in all of us that our individuality is something to be celebrated, not tamped down.