On being a fangirl: ‘Til death or fandoms’ end do us part

We cover a lot of serious topics here in our In My Opinion section but sometimes we also just want to look at the lighter side of life. Well, I’ll be honest, I’ve also just wanted to write about this topic for a while already.

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Being a fangirl is probably one of the first few things you’ll discover about me. I’ve always been this way. In fact, I’m writing this piece in a room surrounded by my treasures amassed from years and years of just loving things constantly—the many young adult books (and books in general), old CDs and cassette tapes (yes, cassette tapes, I even have a Walkman on hand) of Western acts I grew up on, a few K-Pop CDs and DVDs, a sizable number of concert DVDs from some of my favorite Japanese musicians and idols, the entire Rurouni Kenshin live action movie DVDs I’ve ordered from Japan, other memorabilia like calendars, postcards, and posters, and my recent love for anime is starting to fill my work area with figures I swore I wasn’t getting into. Well, you get the picture. 

“I can’t imagine myself not being a fan of something,” a friend of mine said a few years back. And that thought just stuck with me. I didn’t give my interests as much thought before I heard those words. Now, it’s just made me embrace this fanatical side of my personality. I can’t imagine being anything else either. It’s what I’ve always known. Plus, the upside is I’m never bored. In fact, it sometimes seems there just isn’t enough time in the world to indulge my inner fangirl.

Working in the creative field also makes me appreciate being a fan more. I know buying merchandise or attending concerts/events or watching movies (sometimes more than once) is one way to show my support. Of course, you can argue that sometimes it doesn’t reach the intended recipient but that’s another discussion entirely. Showing support this way works for me.

Aside from that, the work these writers, artists, and other creatives produce also inspire me in my work. Following someone’s growth and watching someone produce amazing things help fuel my growth. It’s not about envy or anything, it’s more a thought of “If he or she can do it, then why can’t I?” I’m a firm believer in having heroes and role models, as you well should be. And if you can find a mentor in your heroes, then the better.

Another reason I love being a fangirl is the sense of community I get. Growing up I’ve made a number of friends online (nope, nothing shady about this) from fan communities on LiveJournal. And some of them have become “IRL” (in real life) friends who I even go to visit and meet up with when I get a chance. Yes, the Internet has tons of trolls but there are also ton of people out there who love the same things you do. And you can talk to them for hours and hours about the things you love and they won’t be annoyed by you because they love it with as equal fervor as you do. I’m all for meeting and being friends with people with interests different from mine but there’s also comfort in finding people from your “tribe,” so to speak.

One more reason I can give you is going to venture into the more materialistic side of the fangirl life. I get a lot of cool merch for all my trouble. As it has been established, I like showing my love for things that matter to me. One of those ways is buying merch, and most of the time I love what I get. I like having physical things to remind me of my fandoms. I’d be lying if I said this isn’t an expensive way to live. Thankfully, I’m gainfully employed. Don’t worry, though, I don’t let my obligations slide. It’s all a matter of budgeting and having a different set of priorities.

But it isn’t just about the physical goods these fandoms bring me, sometimes it’s the life experiences and memories I get from them, too. I’m the type of fangirl who’ll fly to another country to catch a concert or take a leave from work to go to a fan event (which I feel like I have to defend was allowed by my office). I like being in spaces where I get to meet and be around people that love the same things I do. And being able to meet people I idolize, those are priceless moments for me. And since I get to travel sometimes because of fangirling, I rack up life experiences there, too.

What it all comes down to for me is the love—as cliché as that sounds. I like being a fan of something. I like being so passionate about things that those become what people identify me as. I like being called a fangirl. I don’t mind the label. You can look at me disdainfully or dismiss my lifestyle entirely. It’s okay with me. I take no offense. I’d rather be full of passion about something than be too cool to care. It’s a much more fun way to live. Trust me.