I Am Not Normal

I'll give you a few minutes to let that statement sink in.  Go ahead, laugh.  Get it out of your system.  I have finally admitted what people have been telling me my whole life.  I am not normal.


The past semester has been about coming to terms with who I am and accepting that it might not be totally normal.  It's been a struggle for me over the years.  My interests and passions make me unique.  I have always noticed how people who embrace their differences and remain confident in the "abnormalcy" thrived, but I have never connected it to myself.  I have always striven to just be normal.


My quest for normalcy probably stems first and foremost from being home schooled.  At the time, home schoolers represented about 1-3% of school-aged children.  At times, it was difficult being different.  However, I had a good case for being normal...graduation, prom, softball, even a class ring.

To be honest, the ONLY reason I had my parents buy a class ring...was to show the world that "normal" home schoolers did exist.

Nope. Not normal.

So I guess it's time to embrace my abnormalcy, because my life is just that, mine.  I have never been happier.

If politics isn't your favorite subject, I'm sorry...but it's one of mine.  I WILL watch election coverage 24/7 on election day.  Normal?  Not really when you consider almost half of Americans don't even make it to the polling places.

Maybe it's strange to the secular academic world that I pray daily and hold the teachings of the Catholic faith in highest regards.  That's okay.  I've accepted that I'm not normal.  I will continuously ask God to guide me in my pursuits and lead me where ever HE wants me to be.

I probably talk too much, laugh too loud, think too much, and dress a little strange at times.  It doesn't matter because I am me.  College has given me friends who accept me for all of the above.

People who love you don't really care if you're strange.  In fact, my closest friends have told me time and again that I'm not normal.  I just finally trusted them enough to believe them.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  -Dr. Seuss