#nerdfighterversary

I wanted to submit this today because as I’m typing this, it is exactly 4 years since I became a Nerdfighter. I had been a die-hard fan of Harry Potter for years by this point, and so obviously I was on Tumblr, and everywhere I looked, I saw people talking about John Green. So I decided on September 12th, 2013, as a senior in high school, to finally give in and read maybe one of his books. I went into my high school library and under the “G” in fiction, I found 2 books, An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns. I read An Abundance of Katherines first, and wasn’t entirely impressed, but I absolutely ADORED Paper Towns. Somewhere around the middle of the book, I found this note which read as follows;

“If you choose to read this book, and you enjoy it (which you will), you are made of awesome. If you want to increase your awesome and decrease world suck go to the channel ‘vlogbrothers’ on YouTube. Welcome to nerdfighteria and ‘Hello fellow nerdfighter!’ Don’t. Forget. To. Be. Awesome.”

So I go on YouTube that night when I got home, and I watch my first vlogbrothers video, and I’ve never looked back.

Nerdfighteria has brought me so much joy in life. I am incredibly grateful for it.

Happy Nerdfighterversary to me!

via @viva-la-pluto-bitches

One year ago today I had never heard nor seen,

Of ‘In your Pants’, ‘French the Llama’ or the Brothers Green.

But I took the train to the city for my first Gathering,

With a bag full of biscuits of my own home-cooking.

I met sixty-five complete strangers who scared me at first,

But their hugs and enthusiasm kept me fully immersed.

That day was the day that your humble old writer,

Became what folks like to call a Nerdfighter.

So thanks very much to this online community,

Who have made my life richer at every opportunity.

There’s so many things I never would have seen,

So many things I’ve done and places I’ve been,

Were it not for the Nerdfighters who welcomed me in,