Outsider No More

I was afraid of feeling like an outsider as I attended my 20-year reunion. As a student, I didn’t fit in with my classmates, mostly due to my cult-like religion. I wasn’t permitted to celebrate holidays (including birthdays), participate in extra-curricular activities, date outside of our faith, or demonstrate any acts of patriotism (e.g. salute the flag or sing the national anthem). I was also discouraged from attending college. These differences always made me feel removed from my peers. I was jealous of their freedoms and that bitterness further alienated me from my class. As an adult, I’ve chosen not to participate in that particular religion, but I’ve...