I was troubled this week when Florida’s state Senate voted 22-17 to pass HB 1557, titled the Parental Rights in Education bill (the state House had approved the bill late last month). This legislation - and several other similar bills in states around the country - are meant to limit open discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, principally in the early grades.
As I stated, this troubles me.
Now is not the time to limit conversation. If anything, we should be opening more doors for teachers to help. We all need people we can talk to - at any age. And kids - young kids more than anyone - need to know there are supportive adults in their corner, willing and able to guide them as they grow, learn, and come to terms with who they are.
The subject of this week’s video (above) and story (below) are on accepting who we are and celebrating it regardless of what the bullies, gatekeepers, and bigots think. In my case that’s being a nerdy kid, but this edict applies across the board. Limiting when and how kids can talk about who they are and what they feel can only harm. Instead, let’s celebrate diversity, individuality, and self-realization. Let’s help others find themselves and let’s support teachers who make it possible. ~JRC
Geeking out over being a nerd
Celebrate who you are - odd quirks and individual proclivities included
First published, February 12th, 2021
As a maker, I am pretty knowledgeable about a wide range of things. But many of these are esoterica - facts that most others find trivial. I flip out over drill bits, for example. And I understand more about superglue than anyone outside of polymer chemistry should know. These and many other seemingly useless facts fill my mind. And at any given time, I am daydreaming about applying what I know.
It's safe to say that I am a nerd.
But why "nerd" and not "geek?"
Honestly, my definition of nerd vs. geek is pretty arbitrary. Look it up, and you'll find all kinds of competing explanations. But for me, "geek" refers to people in tech. And "nerd" is for the rest of us geeks.
Nerd is a good thing. It means saying to heck with the popularity rat race. Being a nerd is about letting go of what others say you should care about and instead doing what you want to do. No matter what.
Nerd doesn't mean you're an outcast. It just means that you try and not care about being an outcast or not. At some point, nerds of all walks of life decide that social norms are less critical. Instead, they scratch the itch, whatever it is. Nerds embrace what they love and celebrate who they are. Critics be damned.
I'm okay with being a nerd. Actually, I've grown quite proud of it over the years. And today, I've embraced it as not only who I am but also as my career. As a maker, I get to be a nerd in everything I do. And trust me, most days, I can be found doing all sorts of nerdy things.
For me, one of the nerd merit badges I wear is being gadget-obsessed. But I don't mean "gadget" as in the newest iPhone or the next big thing from Silicon Valley. No, I'm talking about really nerdy gadgets. Old-school scientific calculators, dial calipers, soldering irons, shortwave radios, and those drill bits I mentioned earlier - all part of my collection. I even have one of those magnifying visors only the geekiest of nerds would wear.
"Collecting" is a very nerdy trait. My nerd gadgets are all quite beneficial to me, and that's part of their appeal. But they're not only useful; I find them comforting as well. When I've had a hard day, sometimes I will sit and click my favorite mechanical pencil. That's it - sit and click. I do it for no other reason than to connect with something I enjoy.
These nerd toys feed my obsession and fuel my creativity. They also spell out who I am in all caps: N-E-R-D.
It feels good to accept that I am a nerd. And admit things like loving calculators and calipers. When I do, all the old pretenses disappear. I am free to be whatever I want when I am a nerd. Instead of feeling limited or awkward, embracing the nerd I am is empowering.
Sure, geek is chic. But I'm nerding-out over here. And that feels like exactly what I should be doing.
Until next time.
JRC
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