I grew up in Hawaii, but I never really felt like an “island girl.” I liked different things from my friends, which made me feel like I didn’t fit in. I liked romance novels, but few of my friends read novels at all. I also liked anime and manga, which made me seem like a geek. I liked music from Broadway musical shows, whereas most of my classmates liked popular music on the radio or Hawaiian music.

My family loved me, but they didn’t really understand me. I didn’t watch popular television shows or keep up with current events.

I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere.