I know that each person's experiences are different. I was most definitely NOT dragged "kicking and screaming" to the Lord. I was baptised as a Catholic, first communion, catechism, confirmation, Catholic school for several years...the whole shebang. But even as a little kid, something inside me "knew" I was not hearing the whole shebang. I knew there was something else to God than what I was being told. I asked God to show me the truth, whatever truth was. Certain things happened in my life soon after and I heard the gospel for the first time. John 10:27-30 to be exact. The light went on and I recognized it was the truth because it came from God's own written word.
So to answer your question, did God seek me? Yes. Did I seek God? Yes. Did he reward my search for the truth with the truth? Absolutely, yes! I think your real question may be, did God place within my heart the desire to know him in the first place regardless of my upbringing? And again, I will say yes. I also believe he does the same for all mankind, but we make a decision when we hear the gospel. Some will reject it due to any number of reasons and some will accept it joyfully or, in your case, because you had no other choice but to accept it, you surrendered to him. Either way, he is glorified! Praise the Lord!!!
Which event occurred first?
did God place within my heart the desire to know him in the first place regardless of my upbringing? And again, I will say yes.
So much for your "free will". If God places a desire for Him in your heart, then it is not your will, but God's will that is being done.
Some will reject it due to any number of reasons
I think objectively the main reason why someone would reject God is because God did not put a desire in his heart to accept him. God put that desire in my heart and he put it in yours. Why you? Why me? Why not Christopher Hitchens?