I'm a freak and proud of it

Picture taken from Facebook

Ever had anyone tell you you're a freak? Or a nerd, geek, emo, and every other so-called 'degrading term out there?

I have. At least a dozen times over, particularly in high school. At least they were nice enough not to call me a dumpling or fatty back in primary school though (I was fat, as in really, what 11 year old weighs a whopping 55kg?).

I was the nerdy one, with the glasses and braces and nose in a book three quarters of the time anyone saw me. I played Scrabble, read extensively and wrote stories and poetry. I was a loner. And I read the dictionary. Therefore the next thing I knew my name had been 'upgraded' to The Walking Dictionary. Still not bad compared to others I've heard. Besides nobody actually shunned me, they still needed me around sometimes when there was English homework to be checked or essay ideas to be asked.

I was also called a bitch a few times but I suppose that comes with being one of the prefects a.k.a a 'school dogs' as they used to call us. I never quite decided if I was proud to be called a dog or not since dogs are the one of the most loyal creatures anyway. But the name-calling and categorizing never stopped there. Someone called me a freak and a weirdo. That's what you get when you read too much that books are better friends than people and when you write all day about weird fanciful things that will never happen. I suppose it was a joke but still.

At that time it wasn't something I cared about. Then I realized that not everyone took it the same way I did, with indifference and a laugh. Some people committed suicide over such name-calling. I would've laughed, but they would've rather died.

Name-calling was an endearment to me in some ways, (anyone from my class can point out who Lassie was in our choral speaking competition. It's yours truly by the way. They still call me Lassie after the dog whose sound effect I performed even after 4 years).

I guess some people use it as an insult and as a weapon. There isn't any easy way around it or any method to avoid it (what? Don't tell me you're going to nod to everything everyone says? You'd be a robot then. See? Another name). Just have to stick it out. Chin up, head up and don't let your wall down. Even if it happens, just knowing you're unique unlike them, it's an encouragement all on its own. We're not sheep. We're not lemmings. I was going to say we're neon zebras when I realized that sounded funny. But it's ok to be different. In fact it's awesome to be different.

So what if I love eating my vege before I finish off my hamburger? So what if I write all day and pour out my feelings through words on a page? So what if I punch the walls when I'm mad? Is it wrong to love my books more? Is it wrong to talk to animals as if they understand? Can't I meow if I want to? Act like a cat if I want to? I hurt no one being the way I am, I'm not doing anything illegal. I'm just being me. So if anyone wants to call me abnormal, a freak, a nerd, a weirdo, GO RIGHT AHEAD. I'll thank you for it.

I'm a freak, a nerd, and proud of it. Walking Dictionary forever.
I'm not weird. I'm just limited edition.