My name is Anna Davis, and I am a complete nerd. While it has been said that admitting you have a problem is the first step on the way to recovery, it’s not something I neither wish to nor have the capacity to recover from. I love Nerd Girl Pinups, along with any other appreciation of nerd culture.

I wasn’t always comfortable with my nerdiness. Growing up nerdy isn’t easy. Before even understanding that that is who you are, you know you’re different (and so does everyone else). I looked forward to spelling tests, had the largest collection of comic books at summer camp, and for fun, I would try to memorize as many elements of the periodic table or digits of pi as possible. All the other girls had Barbie dolls; I had Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figures. I’m certain that every other true nerd has their own examples of things that set them apart as a child – and generally, at that age, being set apart is not a good thing. But despite the mockery that a young nerd will undoubtedly be forced to endure, they will survive childhood and generally end up with good grades and a fair book collection (as books will have filled the void usually occupied by friends).

As an adult, things change. You care less about other people’s opinions and get more comfortable in your own skin. Eventually, you start meeting like-minded people; the nerd support group you never had as a child becomes a circle of the best friends and most awesome people you could ever imagine. As an adult nerd, I have never been happier or more confident with who I am.

That’s why I love the concept of this site. It is a celebration of nerd pride, and a community of people who really understand what it means to be one.

I’m excited to be a part of Nerd Girl Pinups. I will be regularly writing a column of podcast reviews, as well as pieces on events and activities that are of geeky interest. Any feedback and/or suggestions are always welcome at anna@nerdgirlpinups.com.