it's really hard to put that into words. i basically grew up here. i spent my teenage years here and i'm grateful i did. i grew up in alabama, so i didn't get exposed to different ideas of politics, religions, sexualities, etc. until i found my internet home here. i found myself seeing opinions that resonated far more with me than what i would hear where i grew up. eventually, it would pave the way for me to finally become comfortable with my sexuality. met someone i fell in love with here, but i think there are a lot of us that fall into that category, for better or for worse, aha.
being here on staff helped me learn how to become a leader, how to express myself coherently, work with others, learn to compromise, and cope with major changes. naturally we all grow and change, but i'm sure you could ask anyone that was on staff with me, or at least knew me, when i was first modded in 2009 that there was a big difference in my approach in, say, 2014. and especially now, but i'm not staff anymore, aha. but my point still stands. i really don't want to imagine how i would have turned out if not for this place. i would probably still be locked in a shell, to afraid to express myself or how i feel, too afraid to disagree with the ideals that were hammered into my head. i'm grateful that i came here looking for manga scans and a place to host my shitty fics, aha.
