I identify with the Square-Peg term in some ways because I am my mother's child. But I never heard of the concept until she told me about it. Your web site was the first time I'd even been exposed to that phrase.

I think I've always danced to the beat of my own drum, so to speak. I think my parents really encouraged that. They've told me that when I was younger - when I was learning verbal skills - they made a conscious decision to let me speak my mind.

I've always felt like I can say what I need to say. Not necessarily that what I have to say is better than what anybody else says, but that I'm free to express myself. There was never "shut up", "don't talk" or "what you have to say doesn't matter" in my family.

...I don't always go with the crowd on certain things in culture, the arts, the creative world. It's never been like I've got to jump on that bandwagon because I want everyone to know that I'm hip or with it. That's another way I see myself as not quite on the normal path.

I don't know how to do it any other way. I mean, to be honest, I think there are things that are attractive about the norm. But I also believe I wouldn't be who I was if I tried to fit into that.

I wouldn't be comfortable. I think my family and my friends probably keep me balanced in that way - so I don't feel the need to do anything different. I'd just rather be myself.

I try to focus my energy on the positive, not the negative - which can be hard.

...in the past it was a form of therapy, but I haven't written in a while. With my first love - I probably wrote 15 songs about the breakup. So it's been a powerful force in my life - dealing with issues, break ups, my parents' divorce, just growing up issues. It's very personal for me...

..the first time I ever did an open mike with my own music was when I moved out here. Not a lot of people have heard my stuff because it is so personal. There's the fear of rejection - that's my personal song, my story...

I miss it. It's been a couple years since I really did anything. I went to a couple open mike nights but I haven't had my own instruments since I moved...that will change once I move back to L.A..

I'm looking forward to playing again...

One thing that I've really learned over past several years, especially since I've been out here, is that I'm an encourager. I've seen things in people and really tried to encourage them to pursue certain things in their lives: keep trucking, in other words.

Criticism probably. People saying you're kind of out of it for marching to a different drum.

I think, when I was younger, I took it a lot harder - more personally. Like I wasn't good enough - didn't fit their mold.

When I was a teenager I felt the need to not be seen in some ways. For a very long time I was labelled as a singer and into performing arts stuff.

But when I went to college people didn't know that about me. I kept it that way because I didn't want people to be friends with me because they thought I could sing well.

...in L.A. people are always networking, wanting to meet somebody famous or get hooked up with somebody in the industry. I never wanted to be a part of that.

My parents had a huge impact. I was always told that no matter what anybody else says, they don't speak for you. You can choose to let the words of other people in your life or you can choose to discard it.

I think I've done that. I think I take what people say as it is, and allow myself the time to process it and determine whether it's right for me...