I've always been one to talk too much about myself, so let's see for how many paragraphs I can go on about my life. To start off with, I was born in Dallas, Texas on March 28, 1983 - making me a firey aries. (Cancer is my rising sign, for your information.) And if you must know, I'm really rather proud of my Texan backgroud - so, I only lived there until I was three - but being born there makes me a southern belle - and I just like being able to say that I fall into that category. Yes, indeed.

Today you can find me living in the wonderful (wonderfully boring) state of Pennsylvania. The town in which I have grown up in is decent - a good place to raise children. There is a major university here. Sadly, when classes begin again, the population doubles. How pathetic is that? Other then that, there isn't much to say about this place. If you moved here, you would have probably done everything there is to do within a few months - then wonder what the hell are you supposed to do now? Just imagine what its been to live here for 14 years.

My house is generally a quiet place, for normally there are only 3 people living in it - my younger brother Andrew and my mother. My parents are still married, but my father works in Virginia during the week and only ventures home on the weekends - it's probably just better that way - that's what makes my house so quiet. Generally, I get along with my parents and their conservative views, but that is because I rarely speak more then pleasentries to them. It's a pretty typical family for upper-middle class whites.

Growing up I was instilled with every family's basic values - God, working hard = money, try your absolute best in school, sex is dirty and bad, gay isn't the way we were made to be, date inside your own race, stay away from drugs and the evil scary punk people who do them, obey the law, yada-yada-yada. Today, I laugh at most of this. I'm atheist, I believe that happiness is more important then grades (though I do still try my hardest), I'm not a virgin, I'm bi, I find many people who are not white to be very attractive and would date them given the chance, I've done drugs and drank my fair share, I drive far too fast, I hang out with the evil scary punk people on occassion, and I often have to go behind my parents' back to be with the people that matter the most to me. What they don't know won't hurt them. If it wasn't for their ultra-conservative values then perhaps I'd be more open with them about who I am. This is where I hope my children will see me differently. I want to be totally understanding as to everything they might be considering.

My beliefs are different then that of my family. I believe that the best way to live life is to be completely open and understanding to everything around you. Take in the beauty of day to day life, let it wash over you like a perfect emotion. Life is an amazing gift and everyone should experience its fullest possibility. Judgement on others is something I really try my hardest to avoid - for what makes them happy is not always what would make me happy. Everyone should try to realize that. I completely believe in being an individual and finding your own voice - and still accepting others for who they are. If my family could only see the beauty in the world, perhaps we would get along and understand one another slightly better. You can't change someone, but you can adapt to see it their way.

Perhaps my views of the world are idealistic. And if that's what you are thinking, then I totally agree with you - for my goal in life is to find true happiness - what are the possibilities of that?

Since my family and I do not hold many of the same views, my friends have become the most important people in my life. Constantly I am inspired by them. There are a few people like Susan and Dave, who I have known since I was a small, small child. (14 years and counting for him and I ...) Then there are people who I met in middle school - when half of the elementary schools of the area combined. Though, there are only two friends, Laura and Kara, who I have really kept extremely close from that time in my life - a very violent and angry time for me. Once high school began and the two middle schools combined and all the local kids were finally all together, I have met many wonderful new people. People like Erica and Amy - the two people from the beginning of this period that I'd call best friends. Most recently, the time I have spent exploring art and creativity has brought wonderful people like Emily and Josh into my life.

So, where does Kevin - wonderboy who this site was made for - fall into the scheme of things? Read on in "echo: the story" and find out.