How does Hazel find meaning in a complicated and cruel world?

Hazel is a pretty hip girl She marches to her own drummer. She finds meaning in expelling the superficial trappings of society. She looks for meaning in ideas . When Augustus first meets her, he's struck by her uniqueness,

"A college girl," he said, nodding. "That explains the aura of sophistication." (Ch 2))

She shuns what is "cool" and looks for meaning on her own terms.