The Internet: My Reflection

The R@ndom Age

When I was at the mere age of 9 or 10, I was OBSESSED with Harry Potter. I would scour the internet in search of sorting hat quizzes. One day, I came across this website in which you had to make an account to see your results, thus "Potterpox" was born. I became addicted to this site, I'd take all the latest quizzes and search the site for people with the same interests as me, it was simple and fun. I was a goofy kid who shopped at Justice and would say weird random shit in an attempt to be funny, like most young girls. I would come home from school, go swimming, play with my friends, and then I'd go on this site until late at night.
        I don't remember exactly how I made friends on this website, but all I do remember is a weird cyber-bullying issue on this site. Someone was being really mean (for no reason) and being the outgoing kid I was, I just had to help. I wasn't the only person though. A lot of other people on this website banded together and we "defeated" this cyberbully. I remember feeling really "heroic" and "cool". I thought I really did something. The people I met during that time became my friends, and we became a "squad" of some sort. We made a "group chat" using the comment section of something on this website as our own little server. It was really fun. I remember itching to gain access to a computer (ah, before the age of cellphones) so I could check up on my friends and we could talk for hours. I would audibly laugh as we'd talk. I was super happy.
        I became really close to two people especially on this site, who I remember in the time considering them to be some of my closest friends. It was like I had a double existence. I had my best friends in real life, and then I had my best friends on this digital island. Whenever I was alone, I felt like I wasn't. It was a really neat thing.
        As I was scrolling through TikTok (hahaha) I found this video of these guys reminiscing on their old Xbox Live Halo Reach friends. It reminded me of my experiences here so I felt like coming back on and sharing lol.  Its weird because this website reminds me of being a child. It was in the time when something I'd genuinely worry about is if "IamPretty" has returned to wreak havoc on this site again. Now, being a Junior in high school, I revel in the independence and amazing experiences I have, but I miss when my life was as simple as playing dolls with my friends and spending hours conversing with goofy kids on the internet. So, as I continue on with my stressful academics and draining social and extracurricular life, I log off once again. PEACE.