So Ill just start off by responding to Bean's ending question ".. is being a nonconformist conforming to nonconformism? "
I don't think so... to me non-conformism is only deciding to be exactly who you are without feeling the need to conform to any one thing. Like in my case, I'm like a combo of flowerchild, workaholic, slacker, nerd, girlfriend, sister, daughter. I think that non-conforming means that you don't let ONE thing describe you. I don't think I necessarily fit in w any specific group but I can go hang out and have a good time with any group of people. So I'm not actually TRYING to not conform, I'm just doing exactly what I want to w/o being held back by barriers.

Also... Strongsville was like a TRAP!!! To me Ohio in general was kind of a trap. I felt like I had to be the person I always was but I had changed so much and it sucked cause I didn't think my friends would accept changed me. I know a lot of that was just me thinking and that I was more than likely very very very wrong BUT... leaving Ohio let me find myself and was the best decision I have ever made! Once I made it to Georgia I held nothing back, I just let me be me without worrying of being judged. I think my biggest fear was people thinking that I was trying to be someone I'm not when in reality I was still being someone who I wasn't anymore. Oh Strongsville, sweet abyss of suburbia. I hope that everyone who is there there is happy and knows who they are and doesn't get fooled by the trap.

Ok now... thoughts of my own. I think I'm in zen mode too soon, lol. On my way to sangha in a few min where I plan on emptying my mind and sitting in the moment for an hr. And my mind is feeling pretty damn empty right now. Classes started and I'm a Spanish failure already! I registered for Intro Spanish II thinking I already had the basics down and there was NO ENGLISH at all... I'm 100% NOT ready for that yet, Lo Siento Professora Martin.
Ok I'm off to meditate... deuces!
(inner) peace- Michaela Marie