Young Writers Society

this person came to my house today to fix some issues with a light switch, and while he was working, we chatted a bit about school (bc what else would a stranger ask a 15 yo kid who's sitting in the kitchen drinking her tea)
and then he asked me about what i wanted to do. "like, do you want to be a doctor?" i told him i wanted to be a webcomic artist.
"so, you like art?"
"yeah."
he said that it would take a lot of hard work and luck, but he thought i could make it because i had "a vision." and that being on social media was important: "yeah, it really helps to get on that youtube stuff, and instagram, and.. what is that tweet thing called... twitter."

before he left, he talked to my dad about the usual stuff, like "sign here and write the date," and "i would appreciate it if you could review your experience and tell my supervisor how i did, it would help out a lot." and just before leaving, he told me "good luck, i hope you make it."

i'm honestly touched. those words probably meant almost nothing to him because he doesn't know me and probably won't see me again, but that alone just made me so, so happy, because i've never gotten that kind of support from anyone. my parents, my brother, my aunt and uncle, and so many others just don't take my dreams seriously.

(rant, skip if you want) to them, i'm still that little kid who's naive, stupid, and ignorant. a weak little kid who doesn't know how the world works, who depends too much on her parents, who's addicted to technology and mindless entertainment, who is too lazy and distracted and unfocused to ever keep something up consistently. i once made the mistake of telling my mom i wanted to publish a book and make a webcomic. she told me i was addicted to "screens." i also once offhandedly mentioned being an artist to my dad, and he told me i there was almost no chance i would make it because "i'm no walt disney." forget that disney pioneered cartoons and animation, and that i wanted to work in a completely separate niche. it doesn't matter that i draw everyday, that i do studies and focus on improving. it doesn't matter that i workout five days a week with a focus on getting stronger, faster, and with better reflexes for karate, it doesn't matter that i analyze every webcomic or book i come across to see how the creator/author did it, it doesn't matter that i've been commissioned by someone for artwork to publish in their book, that i've designed a pattern for a shirt for my dojo that was printed for the annual spring camp, that i handmade the stencil for a t shirt design for my homeroom class because the teacher forgot to place orders for shirts and helped spray paint two designs for my classmates, it doesn't matter that i wake up at 5 in the morning to make the most of the time i have before i have to deal with other people. they just don't see that.
(rant over)

but this stranger did. and despite not even knowing me, he thought my plan was valid, and that it could be possible. it's more than i have ever gotten from the people around me. and it made me so happy that i actually cried a bit after he left, and it reminded me that there were others out there who could actually support me once i was ready to post my work, who could support my dreams, who could let me make a living doing what i love, regardless of what society may say.