Even though Halloween was just a few weeks ago, some college students will be plagued with fears that scare them more than death itself: Being judged for what they like.

While this certainly is not an entirely new concept, students draw into themselves more and more and hide their passions because showing who they are can seem absolutely terrifying. But, students will gain the keys to happiness and confidence if they can rid themselves of this shame.

It is true that people with interests like anime, video games or Dungeons & Dragons are sometimes the victims of criticism or judgment. Many people are afraid to lean into their interests even if they are passionate about them because the word “cringe” might be thrown at them. Unfortunately, “cringe” is too common of an insult at this time.

When someone is able to embrace these interests, they can find entirely new communities and belonging. Sophomore Jackson Hain talked with me about his interests in Nintendo and horror video games and how he was able to become confident enough to cosplay at C2E2, an annual convention in Chicago.

Like many at their first convention, Hain said he was unsure of himself at first, but grew to love the setting of the convention.

“It’s just an environment that’s so beautiful, it honestly is so rewarding…it builds your self-confidence in a way that you couldn’t really do, because it makes you feel almost popular in a way in these communities,” Hain said.

Participating in things like cosplay or going to conventions, while not something that everyone might understand, can be incredibly rewarding through the community you can build. But, you do not have to go to a convention or a space designed for those interests to form bonds with other people.

Having the courage to proudly show off your fandom can bring out the passion other people have about the same topic, and being bold enough to start the conversation about something that might be unconventional can be the key to a new friendship.

“I think that confidence helps bring the confidence out in other people who have similar interests…those people who care about those things, maybe they’ll come up to me and talk about it, because I can be confident at times,” Hain said.

While harboring this confidence outwardly ropes in fellow fans of a given interest, it is also crucial for a person to express themselves for their own fulfillment and happiness. First-Year Alex Ramirez, a passionate fan of animation and DuckTales, shared her experience of learning to love what she loved as she grew out of childhood.

“As a kid, I would be like, ‘Oh no, I don’t like that. I definitely like everything that everyone else likes.’ But as I got older, I just kind of realized it wasn’t making me happy enough. And what did make me happy was drawing my little cartoons,” Ramirez said.

It is quite common for many that their ability to open up about their fandoms is one that slowly evolves. Yet, this confidence needs to be an active process of putting yourself out there, no matter how scared you may be.

This can seem incredibly frightening to many, but the freeing feeling of being sure of yourself and everything you love will be so rewarding.

“You have to make ways to get past those barriers, because it’s not going to come naturally. You have to work into becoming who you want to be and being okay with being happy with who you are and what you like,” Ramirez said.

Impossible as some may think, the rewards of relishing in your passions and fandoms will forever outweigh the risks. At the end of the day, you must be your own biggest supporter, and that means sinking into the things that bring you the most joy.
So whether you are saving Princess Zelda once again, making countless doodles of Donald Duck or singing your lungs out to Vocaloid songs, do it with all your heart. Let yourself participate in your passions, because your happiness deserves it.