Today’s May 25, and it’s National Geek Pride day.  Don’t forget to bring a towel.

I got to thinking about the meaning of “Geek Pride Day”.  You’re proud to be a geek.  But are you, really?  There’s a geek purity test on the internets somewhere, go do a couple and see how you fare.

I’ve been a geek for my whole life.  For as long as I can remember.  Growing up, I preferred videogames and comic books compared to physical sports.  I enjoyed more intellectual pursuits compared to playing tag.   That was all due to my physical limitations as a kid.  Being scrawny, short, and physically weak kinda forces you to enjoy other forms of entertainment.  Through that, I developed a sense of avant-garde expression.  (Translation: I became a smart-aleck whose only means of defense was outsmarting people, regardless of the consequences.)

Once I got into high school and became more comfortable in my skin, I didn’t give up any of my geeky pursuits.  I still read manga, watched anime, cartoons, played videogames, chatted on the internet(which was in its nascent stages of mainstream existence), and had good geeky fun.  Hell, I still keep in touch with a few of my friends from the internet whom I met at this stage in my life.  (Captain Justy, this one’s for you.)

College is when I really came into my own.  I joined the Southwestern College Anime and Games Club, then later reformed it from the inside as the Pacific Media Club(which later fell apart within one year of my departure).  I met a LOT of amazing geeks there and I’m really grateful for the times and experiences we all shared.  (I met Justin around this time as well, Vince and Richie too, and maaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe Gail).  I also met a girl that I thought was a geek like me, and dated her for 5 years.  How did that end?  Well, read “Strawberry Scented Burnout” when it drops this June.

Even now, I’m studying for my IT degrees.  Sure, I’m not as weak as I once was, but I can get stronger :P.

Finally, I’m leading the greatest crack team of people on a grand mission to create the coolest comic EVER.  How is that not geek chic?

So to make a long story short, I’ve been a geek my whole life, and I don’t see a reason as to why I should quit anytime soon.  It’s become an intrinsic part of who I am.

I AM GEEK, NOW HEAR ME CODE!

……

-Francis