Story of my life (the short form)

I was home-schooled and/or went to a variety of very small alternative schools until I was 13.

Beginning public school in 7th grade was the second most traumatic experience of my life. My non-mainstream upbringing (and my clothes from the Goodwill) made me seem like quite a freak to the other kids.

But I loved to read and draw, and eventually they decided I was a "brain" and an artsy type, and for the most part left me alone.