Even though I grew up in Utah in the 1980s, I never felt like a typical Mormon. In fact, my love for sleeveless shirts, coca-cola, and swearing occasionally earned me the title “Jack Mormon.” A term that was used to describe a Mormon who didn't follow conventional standards. Sometimes I was embarrassed that I wasn’t a cookie cutter version of the girls sitting next to me. But as I got older I learned many of the cookie cutter girls sitting next to me felt atypical also. I have since learned that everyone’s experience in life is different and sameness isn’t as desirable as I thought.

jACKeNSIGN is a place where I can publish my personal essays and be honest about how I fit into this world. Faults and all. I invite you to do the same. If you have an essay you would like to submit for publication please see our Submissions Page.