How have you changed since you joined Southperry?

Since July 1, 2008, I do have to say I became more confident with others around me. I'm definitely much more mature now.

And the obvious fact that I'm now 2 years older.

I have definitely changed, not much though, but now I feel like it is kinda my duty to help people more.

I also learned to say no.

Says I joined August 16, 2008. Around that time I had spent a summer tormented by this guy I was falling for, though I was completely in the closet at the time, and had I not met him probably wouldn't be as out as I am today. I totaled a car and started senior year of high school within the week or two of joining Southperry as well.

So since then? Had an (overall) amazing senior year of high school, doing six live theatre shows, becoming really close with a lot of friends and teachers, and got into what turned out to be the perfect school for me. It was a rollercoaster year, though, as my procrastination in studies led to even more GPA slip-ups and, even worse, massive issues with college applications that probably led to my 70% denial rate. Because of all this tensions between my parents and I were very high, resulting in arguments almost every night of the week, one in which I, regretfully to say, slapped my mother on the arm, and another where I threw a glass across the kitchen, shattering it. Basically, I held everything together in public (but barely), enjoying the activities beyond academics, while watching my future potentially die before my eyes, along with relations with my parents, all due to my MapleStory addiction.

That next summer was intense, then, the summer of 2009, as it was the second and final time I was in a show with this guy I was falling for. Those two summers really opened me up to LGBT emotions that allowed me to come out so readily in the fall. But basically the summer was characterized by not having a job, being constantly yelled at by my parents for that fact, seeing a therapist once every two weeks, and grinding from 170-200 in MapleStory.

Then I began university, and my life changed. I came out, started my first semester with a 3.96 GPA, met a ton of awesome friends, and got really involved on campus. It was the best semester of my life in the past 5 years.

Things have been more rough since academically, and my studies remain my biggest area for improvement to this day, but things are getting back on track. Beyond studies, I've quit MapleStory, made even more amazing friends, am finally back to my "hanging out with friends all the time in real life" self, am super involved on campus, etc.

So I guess the tl;dr is my life got flipped turned upside down (lolFreshPrince). I went from a closeted, fashion-blind, academically struggling video-game addict barely holding it all together, though still, somehow, having some great life experiences, to a successful, out and proud, fashion fabulous, academically challenged socialite who is loving life and simply wish I had more hours in the day to do everything I need/want. It's the biggest and most important transformation of my life thus far, and I couldn't be happier.

Oh, and Southperry? Love you all. I'm sorry this post is exceedingly long, but it needs to be said again, like I've said so many times before: this is by far the best online community I've ever been a part of, apart from in-game Khaini friends. You have all been such a big part of my life these past 2.5 years that I actually reference this forum in colloquial conversation with real life friends when discussing topics that have also been posted here earlier. I've gotten to know some of you well enough that we're now Facebook friends even, and so all I can say is I love our ridiculous, diverse, quirky little family.

Summer 2008, eh? I just barely graduated highschool back then, but boy was I naïve. My world back then was still pink and jello, having been an Asian boy whose sole concern was going to school (and extra classes at night). My mom is a miracle if there is one in this world, she took care of everything and that spoilt me beyond sympathy, though I am entirely at fault for my own things. I learned of love and, ironically, it took the roses and rainbows away from my world. My viewpoints on life strayed as well towards the rather disbelieving side. That is not all negative though, being a pessimist, you develop an appreciation for the nice little things you didn't notice before.

Southperry has done a great deal for me. Needless to mention the technical help and inspiration I got from the more savvy guys, I also greatly appreciate a place to practice my second language as well as exchanging ideas rather fruitfully (unless I was just being a jerkass all the time in arguments, I tend to feel I always get something out of it). I GUESS this should be what friends would feel like, as I have no friends even up to this day; but I'm not sure, since I barely know any of you guys.

In real life, the big transition has been from college to medical school. Med school has overall made me a better student, but at the same time it has made me kind of depressed. Trying to study 6 hours a day can be a real drag.


As far as Southperry goes I kind of become more of a lurker I guess.

 Spoiler

Hang in there, Justin