> > I don't listen to mainstream music - I prefer classical, with some Christian music and jazz mixed in.
>
> Same problem. "You listen to CHRISTIAN music?" and the typical disgusted face in response. I try to respond by telling them that it all isn't church music (though I have nothing against that!), that you can find any secular BEAT with a Christian message, etc. but they still look at me weirdly. Oh well.
>

When i started college, i owned about 25-30 CDs, nearly all Contemporary Christian except for one Mozart compilation.

Finishing my fifth of six years in undergraduate study, i have nearly 230 discs, including Beethoven, Miles Davis, Phil Keaggy, Alison Krauss, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I could echo most everyone in this thread, except perhaps for Stephen, because i am NOT good at cheering people up (read: sarcasm). The small church high school i went to made each social group (clique or whatever) smaller, so there was more crossover and fewer people to choose from.

But i did end up in my room most weekends when all the other guys in my class were riding around town. In college, we mock those people to scorn, but i wished as a high schooler to be involved. I spent a lot of those weekends writing lyrics (hard to write songs with no instrumental capabilities). I had friends, and the close are still close on the rare occasions we're together.

I think not being intensely into popular high school groups (though i was in class, drama, chorale, as well as basketball and football with those guys) kept me from limiting my interests going into college. In five years, working on two music degrees, i've never taken a class i couldn't find intense interest in on SOME level.

> > I just have different interests. But all that seems to lead to is a "talk to you later" from the other person, and of course they never DO talk to me later. It drives me up the wall. Am I THAT much of an oddball?

The clique makes you cynical to what's not IN for the clique. I think a lot of my fellow music majors close themselves off to certain styles of music (e.g., country/western, rap, jazz) and rob themselves of SOMEthing they CHOOSE not to like. But this is not completely bad, because at some point one MUST narrow one's interests or else be without employment.

That's the place i'm getting near. I don't have a clue what i'll do when i get out of school, because i won't be fully equipped to do what i'm studying (church music, i.e. conducting choir and organizing/leading worship services) very well.
And i do feel quite distant from virtually every friend i've made in college on intimate levels (read: intimate friendship, not physical relationships and such).

To an extent, i think these two work together, because i am less bound to the place by relationships, which frees me to be able to leave, should occupation allow. And the few closer friends (only two come to mind) are the kind of relationship that would keep some communication no matter where we end up; and even if we don't keep in touch, there will still be prayers and thoughts of each other. Those are the people i am a part of, and they are a part of me.

> > I don't have a car or even have my license yet. (Long story.) I don't drink, don't party. I live at home, and I LIKE it. (Even if the absurd rent here wasn't an issue, I'd still live there. My family rules.) I don't go to see movies very often, and when I do, they're not the 'cool' ones.
>

CooL movies usually suXX0r, in that they are more patterned form and less individual story! Besides, cars drink gas, and gas costs money; money spent on gas could rather have been spent on music or food, which are obviously the two staples for sane living (clothes could be optional for sane living if you're a Jainist or live in certain college dorms).

> > Basically, I am so out of pop culture that there are never any conversation topics beyond the norm - "What's your major?" "How are your classes?" and the like that take about 2 minutes to get through.
>

I've initiated the question-answer thing plenty; but with some people, even some who are my friends since kindergarten, it doesn't work. If a person doesn't want an open-ended discussion (i.e., involving answers which are more than one or a few words),you can't force it. I hate that. I think it's one of Newton's lesser known laws.

> > I feel like a very uninteresting person, even though I know that isn't true.
>
>

I'm not a counselor or anything, but i did get As in General and Adolescent Psychology. We all hit those phases ( i do a LOT), and some form of venting to explain to yourself why could probably help. Like i said, i occasionally write lyrics, and the probability that they don't match the caliber of Den-Kara or Poetry Pool (*smiles cheesily with sincere affection*). King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. But writing may not be it for you. Some artistic outpouring, though.

> > For me, when I was in college, that meant getting involved in a Bible study with the local Campus Crusade for Christ chapter. Although my busy schedule kept me from forming any lasting relationships there, I always felt welcome and in touch with the people I met there.
>

Sweet! I take part in a campus ministry when i can on my campus, but i must admit that i often don't "fit in" there either. It's not that they don't try, but the leadership positions most often go to extroverted people, meaning some of us moderately quiet types don't get exactly what would best reach us.

I John 1:7, i think, lists the sociality of believers as the FIRST proof of salvation, even before "the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ." This may be because of that inner longing to connect with them and see them grow that comes from any relationship.

Anyway, i hope that helped and that this isn't as deletable as most of what i write in here. It is a problem close to my heart.

Penny*still frikkin' talks too much*stamp