All my life I’ve felt out of place, I never really fit in with any groups when I was in middle or high school, and even once I graduated and joined the military, I still felt segregated from the crowd. I’ve always been the odd one in the group, never quite fitting in. During middle school I spent most my time building robots, or reading about outer space. When I got to high school and realized that I had let myself be alone for so long, I tried to branch out and make new friends. The result was less then spectacular. I tried TOO hard and alienated myself further. I did have a few very close friends who I spent time with but not many. My senior year I left the state and attended a school in Florida. I was a little more accepted in this school versus my prior school, but I was still slightly unwanted. This pattern continued even after high school when I joined the Navy. Day after day I would watch from the outside as people would enjoy their weekends together, going to bars, concerts, and parties, never once being invited to any of them. Then one day I decided to stop trying to fit in with everyone and be my own person. I have always been kind of nerdy; I played video games, went to renaissance fairs, wrote fantasy stories, watched lots of sci-fi, but I never embraced it. I always let it take a back seat to trying to be cool or fit in, and as much as I would like to accredit my decision to be myself to my own mind, I can’t. The credit for that goes to Star Trek, and I will tell you why in a moment. Sci-fi has always been a passion of mine, whether its movies, games or shows, they all interested me so much, the idea that one day we could travel the stars and meet new races on alien worlds, it was all so fascinating. A few of my friends recommended that I watch Star Trek, since I was such a fan of so many other similar shows and movies. I put it off for quite a while, letting other shows and movies take precedence, then one day when I was home sick from work, Star Trek TOS came up as a recommendation on my Netflix. I wasn’t watching any other shows at the time so I figured then would be the perfect time to start the series. Little did I know that at that moment my future was being changed for the better. I watched Star Trek every day until I had seen every episode of every series and every movie and documentary ever made. I became full on obsessed with Star Trek. I started collecting comics, toys, and replicas, if it was Star Trek I had to have it. What really hooked me on Star Trek was the idea of a utopia. An Earth in which everyone was an equal and no one was excluded based on their interests or income (which is a moot point in Star Trek anyway since currency was done away with decades prior). It was a perfect world. I loved everything about it. That is what really allowed me to open up and be accepting of who I was, rather than trying to fit a mold that other people laid out for me. Since then I have started traveling to conventions and dressing as a member of the enterprise (TOS) and I have met some amazing people along the way as well. This past convention I attended in Reno (my local con) I actually became the face of the convention. I helped with the set up and execution of the ComiCon bar crawl the night prior to the convention, and was behind the scenes working with film and photography crews during the convention. Furthermore I became the “girl that broke the stereotype”. What I mean by that is, I know I am not an unattractive person (that’s not me trying to be shallow, that’s me being confident in who I am) I had people at the bar crawl come up to me and say things like “did you just grab the first sexy Cosplay outfit you could find?” or “You’re not ACTUALLY a Star Trek fan are you.” To which I would have the honor of putting them in their place about how wrong their stereotypes about Trekkies were. Then there were the people at the convention who had the exact opposite statements, saying things like “I’s nice to see someone as young as you appreciate Star Trek.” Or “It’s nice to see someone breaking an age old stereotype.” I probably had more people come talk to me and enjoy my company in the three days of the convention, than my entire existence combined. When ConTV interviewed me and asked what my favorite part of the convention was, I knew exactly what to say. I said “The best part isn’t the booths, or the celebrities, it’s the fact that hundreds of people can come together in a setting where everyone is accepted and share their talents and hobbies with other people who truly appreciate this culture for what it is.” Since then I have made a massive amount of friends though conventions and clubs, people who I can share my passions with in an environment where everyone is accepted. But the one thing I think I can credit Star Trek with the most is saving my life. I have battled depression for 10 years and being part of a group where I feel at home has given me a new outlook on life, one with a bright happy future rather than the dark one I had been living. Star Trek opened my eyes to the idea that the future can be a bright place if we can accept everyone for who they are. We are all equals and together we can make the utopia a reality. What I want to know is does anyone else have a story like this, where Star Trek shaped who they are today, or helped them overcome an obstacle. I’d like to know if anyone else has had an experience like me. Oh and did I mention I got to hang out with the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) while I was working, because I did! and I got picture proof haha.
Welcome! Are we a large community? I really wish we were larger! I think we all enjoy discussing Star Trek, even though we don't always agree on everything. I've been watching the show since the very early 1970s, since before I was in kindergarten. Watching TOS is among my earliest memories. Yet it's still neat that there's always more to discover, no matter how thoroughly I know an episode. Getting other perspectives on the show is one of the rewarding things about being on the board.
That's one of the things I love about Star Trek as well. Having seen every episode, I notice when I go back and watch one over again, i notice some little detail I hadn't caught before. It's such a vast series and even when you've seen them all, there's still more to discover, just as you've said!
Hello Brie! Welcome to Trek BBS! I became a Star Trek fan in 1984, at the age of 4. From the first moment I watched my first episode, I was hooked. It didn't take long for me to realize I wanted to be a scientist, just like Mr. Spock. I also wanted to be a doctor, just like McCoy. While I haven't become a member of either profession, the show spurred my interest in science, engineering, and the joy of exploration and discovery, and it's something I have passed down to my niece and nephew, who also show a proclivity for the sciences. It makes me think that even though I didn't accomplish my dream, there is still hope for the future. Also, I once met Vaughn Armstrong, and got him drunk.
Thanks for providing your story. It's very good to hear that others enjoy what I enjoy. I would not say that Trek has changed my life but I will say that it has enriched it so very much. Like you, I have watched it all and collected lots of memorabilia over the years. There are parts of many shows that I've seen so much that I could recite the monologue. My family doesn't share the same feelings regarding Trek but they understand and respect that it's something I enjoy. Like you, I feel at home among Trek people because they enjoy what I enjoy. LLAP!
Welcome to the board, Brie. I don't know whether or not Star Trek helped shape who I am today as I can't remember who I was before I started watching it.
Welcome to the fandom. I can see you already received your badge and gun at the front desk so make yourself comfortable...
Me neither, but I was just a toe-head tyke. And probably a better person. Also, welcome to the board, Brie. Come for the people. Stay for the hors d'oeuvres. The pate is excellent.
Aye, welcome to the boards! I'm sorry you didn't have a more positive experience in middle/high school and in the Navy, social-wise. I'm the Navy now myself, and it hasn't been the most awesome time of my life so far either, but I've had a very strange career so far, postings-wise, so I can't make any sweeping generalizations. Anyhow, I hope you're getting the full extent of GI Bill benefits and all that. I was introduced to Trek around the age of 6, and, like many or even most of us, was instantly captivated. I've always been a quieter, more introspective and imaginative person, and Trek became so woven into my mental life that I'd say it's more accurate that Trek helped form me than it changed me, as I honestly don't fully know what my personality would be like if I'd never seen it. For my own part, I very rarely Trek anymore, but I come to the boards here about every day, so the Trek influence on me actively lives on in that manner at least. Anyway, congrats on making all those Trek-connected friends, and becoming socially involved! I'm fortunate to not struggle with recurring depression myself, but I'm certain that you and your story are not alone in that regard. Courage! And, enjoy your stay here. There's a lot of smart and interesting posters around these parts.
I don't know? It seems like you've found a community that accepts you that you might not otherwise have found.
Yeah TayLa how about all the bonhomie and chat! :: hugs :: Star Trek has done a lot for me, if it didn't exist I would have glommed onto some other alt.world and rl interaction about thereof. Yeah. But it is the one that got me, the prime one. If it was deleted from the universe tomorrow I would just go full SW but as it is I don't have time to have more than one prime investment. I love my 700+ episodes Such a big world..
Met my best friend through a shared interest in Star Trek and that was back in 1972. That friendship led me to places and people I wouldn't know otherwise. So, I'd say Star Trek changed my life, too.
I might be challenged to say Star Trek changed my life. Or more specifically I could be challenged to say in what way and how much it influenced me. I grew up in a loving home (for that generation which expressed it self in differnt ways than later ones). I was born with a heart problem which for the first several years of my life left me small and physically challenged to interect with other kids on a physical level. Over the years I tended to have one or two good friends and otherwise was something of a loner. I developed a lot of solitary type interests which by and large continues to some extent today. Yes, I could feel awkward and alienated but I don't know if it was anymore than usual for thos years and throughout my teens. When I got into the working world at the age of 19 I slowly began to become more assertive and develop a stronger sense of self-confidence particularly with others. I found most adults generally less reactionary and ignorant than kids and more willing to give you a chance as a person. Because I was teased (then being small) when I was a kid I tended to hold off on teasing anyone else until I got to know them and knew they understood any teasing on my part was good natured. And over the years I tended to try speaking up and standing up for those I saw being pushed around. I admit I have my own biases, but I try to give people benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise. Did I learn those things from Star Trek? I don't know if I actually learned them there or if they merely reinforced what I was inclined to believe anyway. Although it might not seem so now I found TOS' message of inclusiveness for people who seem different from yourself quite appealing and very rational. Yes, Spock might seem the ultimate expression of this, but there were others as well throughout the series. As a youth there were many things I wasn't yet really aware of so I saw no reason to treat people differntly just because they looked differnt from me. Mind you my parents set this example and Star Trek essentially reinforced it. I think Star Trek did teach me that ideas matter and can have very profound effects. In many respects it showed me a kind of world I hope we can have one day because in so many ways we don't have it now. And in some ways it seems farther out of reach now then when I was growing up in the '70s.
That was a very inspiration story, and I agree about Spock being the quintessential example of the loner who was different, and many could relate to that. Thank you for sharing your story as well!
Welcome aboard, Brie! <jfk> Ask not what Star Trek can do for you — ask what you can do for Star Trek. <jfk> <groucho> I don't care to belong to any club that would have me as a member.<groucho>