I is for Indigo and Independence
By Melissa Kemp

I've always been different. From when I was brought to Earth to this day and probably up until the day I die, I'll be different. However, I don't think being different is something bad. Based on my experiences, it can feel that way.

When I first started school, I had few friends. And the friends that I had were makeshift. They didn't understand me and, unfortunately, didn't try. Most of my social life was - and still is - spent with nature and animals. I feel that they speak a secret language that humans are too ignorant to understand. They are my true friends, and I can depend on them. All the people around me weren't suitable, and to me were sort of "primitive."

Although I have faults, I'm not a bad kid. Although I don't pay attention I complete all my work. I always struggle though. I hate listening to my teachers, as they explain things the hard way. I prefer homework because there aren't any time limits and I can do things "my way." I even get extra credit on my homework, but I'm pretty average with Class work and quizzes. I like to add creative sparks to my projects; I would even add my "friends" (like fungi, sticks, and shells) to brochures so others could admire them. I don't think they ever understood the real reason why.

Although school has been pretty easy, I used to think I was mentally unstable. I would read from textbooks, and the words seemed all jumbled up. This started in middle school, and as I prepare for ninth grade it hasn't vanished. I used to read clearly and with preciseness, but I sometimes feel dyslexic. I often hear that a lot of left-handed people are dyslexic, and I am left-handed. Also, I see things on a regular basis. I used to see a lady with bright green eyes pointing like laser beams whenever I thought about my Native American ancestors. There would be people running in the woods and robed people with gemstone boxes outside. This really scared me, as did certain thoughts. I felt as if I was from a different planet, called Europa (one of Jupiter's moons) and I had visions of "people" swimming in its core. Also, for a long time whenever I went out, I felt a specific person was after me, trying to hurt me. For the whole school year I avoided people I thought were after me - people who didn't even know I exist! I did some research and made a self-diagnosis. I thought I was schizophrenic. This really freaked me out, and I soon told my mother that it was bothering me. We went to the doctor, who gave me some test and told me I may have food allergies and pellagra. My diet has been restricted and I have to take vitamins (Vitamin C, Niacin amide, and Vitamin B complex). I still have these feelings, but they don't disturb me that much.

Another important thing that has isolated me is my beliefs about religion. I feel that there is much need for reform, especially in my religion, Christianity (more specifically Catholicism). As I think there is much hypocrisy, I want to relieve people and myself of this and bring back love, a pacifist attitude, and the belief that God knows who we are and loves us all, and we will all be saved. These are personal beliefs I hope others share.

I was watching "Mysteries of the Unexplained" when they had a special about geniuses. On came the indigo children. Ironically, indigo is one of my favorite colors, so I listened. However, the children described sounded sort of like me. I decided to search more and found a whole lot of information on Indigoes. That is when I first thought of myself as an Indigo. I wasn't sure though, and did some more research and asked others more aware of the subject about myself. I was immediately referred to The Indigo Children by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober. I recommend this book to all, even those with the slightest belief that they are Indigo. Someone close to you could be, and it can dramatically change their lives.

I know three other people, a classmate, a cousin, and a neighbor, who I feel are Indigo and before I misdiagnosed them with ADD. I can see how this is an easy thing to do, as school has started and a lot of my behavior is more ADD-like. I am impatient and stand a lot in class, but I don't feel bad about it anymore. I know that I am special, and so is everyone else. Even if you aren't Indigo, you are still special. But as Indigoes, we must remember that it is normal to be different, and there are others out there like us. We may not know them, but that's okay. We are independent thinkers, and years ago we would've been persecuted because of our behaviors. I tell all Indigoes to be independent, and be proud. We are the next step in human evolution. One day, all people will be like us. We will survive, because we know the truth. We are the truth.

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Melissa Kemp is a 13-year-old Indigo who resides in Granite, Maryland. In her free time, Melissa enjoys art, literature, and foreign languages, specifically Japanese. She is currently an eighth grader at Sudbrook Magnet Middle School of Pikesville, Maryland, where she studies the visual arts. She hopes to continue her studies at Carver Center for Arts and Technology next year.