Why Being a Stan to Something is So Important

So, as some of you may know, I was a long time fan of One Direction. I'm 17 now, they're currently on a hiatus, and I began liking them just after I turned 12, with my best friend and my sister. 

So, I bring to you these reasons that may help you understand if you just don't see the point of it:

• It gets you through school. Less time to worry about what others think and more time to find yourself in their worlds. They're living out their dreams, while you're going through quite a mandatory time in your life that often times is awkward and stressful. You don't need more reminders of how you're finding out who your real friends are and who you are. Buy their albums, stream seasons and seasons of shows on Netflix, make sure you do your homework first so you don't have to stay in high school for longer than necessary. Regardless, if high school has been way rougher than it has to be, resort to music and television and embrace first-world privileges.
• Social media and its inside jokes make more sense. I honestly did not know what a stan was until I began being a stan of multiple people, not only One Direction but YouTubers and actors and Internet personalities or influencers in general. There's so much slang for so many different topics and trends, it's hard to wrap your head around it. I constantly think back to 2014 me and the posts that I made and how they had no abbreviation and how obsessed I was with correcting everyone's grammar but now it's trendy to pronounce things wrong and make fun of the English language. And we need people to make it trendy and spread what's mainstream to make it so, and those with large social media platforms advertise "slaying" and being flat-out "savage" and that's more than OK. Live in the now. And adore those who have no idea who you are, break the replay button. 
• It shows you empathy. You don’t know these people and yet you know their middle name, what their favorite color is, how many siblings they have. It’s like a one-sided relationship; it helps you put yourself aside and completely invest in the other person. Many people don't like this. They try to tell me that the artists or actors won't ever care about you, and they're absolutely right. But yet you take time to adore this celebrity’s aspects and their talents and you're proud to see their names mentioned, and that's got to mean something.
• You make new friends. You start to look for people and befriend those who like that artist. Many confide in people online, but it could be so much more. There's usually an official group of people in your town or city who adore music artists and TV series, and probably love that song as much as you do or despise that character as much as you do. Honestly, if it wasn't for obsessing over groups like One Direction and Twenty One Pilots, I'd have so much less to talk about with specific girls locally, or my best friend and I would've just had memes and controversial topics to rant about. It fills a void, and brings people closer. Fandoms are a beautiful thing, I'm telling you.
• It raises your expectations in a significant other. You see this celebrities, you like the way they look, how they hold themselves. You interpret it, you breathe it all in, and you discover that you like dorky attributes in a guy or a girl. You like people who smile so much you question if their cheeks hurt. You like the way they sing, how every emotion is articulated in each letter of the words that make up the lyrics. You realize you're into drummers. Drummers that send love and prayers when tragedies happen and confront those who hurt others on social media, and aren't afraid to wear that ripped t-shirt and those black jeans that look like they're painted on. You might not look for someone this specific (in fact, please don't), but it helps. You won't settle for someone who is ugly on the outside and inside.
• It helps you discover your own talents. You might belt out lyrics to their song one day in the car, and realize that that note you just hit didn't sound like a hyena trying to use a harmonica. You might mock an actress or actor in a movie and someone might tell you it sounded accurate. You might watch a movie, conjure up an alternative ending, and come to terms with the fact that you could be the next Shakespeare or Wes Craven. Let's face it; you can be anyone that you put your mind to and the fact that you have such creative people to look up to and build off from is a plus and a head start for sure.

Give it a try and as always peace and love!