Cosplaying and conventions are head to head on my list of favorite things to do, Before getting further into things it is probably best to explain what exactly cosplaying is; cosplaying (also known as costume play) is where one dresses up as one’s favorite characters from comic books or anime. For a long time, I did not have many friends, but a few years back, one of my friends had begun to show me comics and anime, which in turn opened me up to an entirely new world. After being introduced to anime and comics I had started to make some more friends with common interests but it wasn’t until two years later that I learned about cosplaying and conventions.

One of my friends from Forsyth Central High School had called me and asked if I was going to a convention called Anime Weekend Atlanta , to which my brilliant answer was, “What even is that?”  Once we talked for a while and she explained things a bit, I was ecstatic at the idea of going; it was time to go through the grueling process of getting parental permission. When I originally introduced the idea of going my father told me there was no way in hell that I would be going to stay in Atlanta to go to a convention where all the weirdo’s come out. It took a lot of convincing and a week or so of my parents talking with the parents who would be staying in the hotel with us that it was going to be entirely safe. Later, when it was decided that I was going, I chose to make my own costume, which I will admit was pretty stressful seeing as I had to get it finished by a deadline.

Despite all the stress that comes with cosplaying it is entirely worth it. I can take weeks (sometimes even months) to put together different costumes, but the sense of pride I get every time that I finish a new costume, whether it is for myself or commission work (commission work is costumes you get paid to make other people), is what motivates me to keep cosplaying and making costumes. When I finish something I sit back and think to myself, “This is something you made, and it looks really good. Be proud of it.” The best feeling is when I go to conventions and get the chance to show off all the work that I put into making a costume. People are constantly giving each other compliments.

Conventions, I would have to say, are the best environment to be in because of how many friends one can make and all the positive feedback. When I go to conventions, the first thing I notice is all the fans in costumes and how freely everyone is talking. They give me the chance to come out of my shell and be myself because I feel safe around everyone and I know that at a convention is somewhere I belong. I can walk around and someone can just come up to compliment my costume. Then by the end of the day I end up with the other person’s contact information.

The cosplay and convention communities are the most supportive groups of people that I have ever spent time around, and I love it. Everyone will freely come up and talk giving advice on making things, compliments or just simply to talk. It is probably the easiest environment to make friends in because everyone there shares at least a few common interests so everyone ends up coming together as a home away from home no matter how corny that sounds. So whether one is new to cosplay and conventions or not everyone has a place in the cosplay/convention community.