Don’t be afraid to love your geeky side

So you are a student seated in an empty classroom and you are watching the rest of the class file in.

The first student you notice walk in is Mike. Mike is a real chill guy, and rule number one of being a real chill guy is that real chill guys do not simply walk in to the classroom. Therefore, Mike does not simply walk in to class. Instead, Mike has his Beats by Dr. Dre (also known as the chillest of headphones) on and is swerving side to side in his walk as he gets down with his bass. Mike almost bumps into a desk because he has been head-banging for a whole hour and has become disoriented — but he finds his seat. Mike is a character, and that’s why we all love the Mikes of CSC.

The second student you notice walk in is George. George is on the football team. You know George is on the football team because of his sweats, but also because of his aura of intimidation. You made quick note of that when, as he walked into the classroom the first day, he pulled a balloon from his duffle bag, popped it and growled lowly, “Grrr.”

Both students are great people who revel in what they do. Unfortunately — because sometimes we all write off people as stereotypes — Mike and George do not know each other well. Mike does not identify with George because he does not seem to understand the greatness of Beats, and George does not identify with Mike because, well, he doesn’t wear ‘the sweats.’

However, people are not walking stereotypes. Each and every one of us has a plethora of interests, and we have so many different sides because of those interests.

It is not completely appropriate to blame Mike and George for stereotyping each other though. An issue equally problematic is the probability that we may present ourselves as stereotypes.

For example, many of us change from Sunday morning to Saturday night. During the former, many of us have a religious book in hand, a tie on, and are raising the roof for whoever our savior may be. During the latter, these same people have excess alcohol going in their mouth and garbage coming out. As seen, sometimes we fit ourselves right into stereotypes by actively showing only one side of ourselves.

What would you say if Mike and George, the real chill guy and the intimidating football player, both loved Spongebob? What if the song Mike was playing on his Beats started as “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” And the balloon that George had was obtained on National Free Balloon Day (Spongebob reference)?

Hopefully it would not be all that surprising. After being in college for long enough, we learn a vast majority of people have a nerdy side to them. Almost never, however, is it the side that we choose to show. Instead, we let ourselves appear as flat characters without diverse interests. Because of such, Mike and George may never become friends when they could have been singing, “F is for friends who do stuff together” all along.

Because it is a tragedy we do not show all of ourselves to others, we should each think about changing this. It can be hard to show your socially less-accepted sides, however, mainly because almost everyone has a fear of being ostracized.

To overcome this, the first thing we need to learn to do is to unconditionally love ourselves. Then, we must freely express ourselves. Every part. Last, we must forgive those who ostracize us for doing so.

 

 

Love yourself

So let us say you are a person who has a lot of pride, but has yet to learn self-love. You also have an undying interest in certain Japanese comics (also known as manga) like Dragon Ball. Or Star Trek. The world sees such as nerdy, dumb, and bland, but all you see is your favorite hobby, your joy,  but because of your dynamics, you cannot share this with anyone.

I have a question for you: does pulling off a chill stereotype mean much? You may say something to me like: not to you pink starfish-lover, but to a true chill guy keeping it real it matters greatly.

I like your answer; it shows you have spunk, Mr. Spock. But here is an answer to your answer: most of us are a bit silly. (That is a euphemism; if you want the cut truth, most of us are dorks.) So why keep hiding what you enjoy instead of sharing it with others who enjoy it, or may enjoy it if they were to be introduced?

Your hobbies and interests are an important part of who you are. If you like something, do not let your self-created guilt of such control you. If you do, you are giving your life away to the guilt. Let go and live the life you wish. Love yourself.

 

 

Express yourself

If you already love yourself, or manage to start doing so, the next best step may be to begin expressing yourself. If you believe that showing off your less socially-accepted sides is like being a photographer in the sense that you have to wait for the right moment, please see this from a different perspective for just a moment.

For example, use the perspective of a kid. It is funny how as kids, we were able to have so much fun from playing with so little: for us guys, we pretended to be superheroes on the playground, or pretended to be fighting each other with cool weapons. Or sometimes, with a little “imagination,” we would go on adventures within a box. Not only was imagination required for these things, but a release from self-awareness.

As adults, or just really old children, we have such an acute sense of self-awareness. We can no longer lose sight of ourselves and our presented image.

Away with that. If someone asks you who you are deep down, scream it out loud, “My heart is calm and pure… pure padawan!”

If you are listening to the Pokemon route two theme song through your Beats while taking a test in a PC lab on campus, and a cutie sits next to you, don’t worry if he or she can hear it through your Beats. Blare it louder. Well maybe don’t blare it, the objective here is to not go overboard, but just do not hide it.

If he or she is impressed in your tastes, then that is a great sign. Ideally, you should want to be with someone who compliments the life you live and love, not someone who will change minor details about you to fit their liking.

You may be saying: I do not care about love, show me another reason why expressing my full self is important. In this case, think of yourself as a set of shakers. You have a salt side and a pepper side, or a light side and a dark side if you wish. Sure, salt may be good on some food, but without pepper, it can be a little bland sometimes. Same goes for pepper. Certain food is better with both, just like certain situations in life are better with all your sides in play.

 

 

Forgive ostracizing

Make no mistake, you will be ostracized at times if you choose to fully express yourself. However, in general, many people think those who are made fun of a lot are the ones with the viewpoints needed to change the world. After all, if everyone were like Spongebob (that is, people who are willing to show their nerdy sides), then it would literally be impossible to have any Squidwards (that is, those who get mad at those who are willing to show their nerdy sides).

That is easier said then done, of course. When we find ourselves in silent situations that are full of sound — quiet laughter when we enter a quieted room — our courage is tested. So much courage is needed for an individual to be willing to fully express themselves because being accepted into a group of real chill guys is a powerful force in every young person’s life.

Because of such, you may get angry and say: you real chill guys have taken away my life, but there is one thing you cannot take away, my pride! So what are you waiting for? Tear another strip out of my heart by popping another balloon.Try not getting angry toward the people who ostracize you, but instead be forgiving of them.

In the end, we are all quite capricious souls. Today one thing is nerdy, but the next day it may not be. So do not worry about current trend. Each generation seems to laugh at the current fads, but follow them religiously after time has passed.