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As I was reading Will Wheaton’s post about his evolution as a geek, I started thinking back to my teen years and certain things that would definitely qualify me as having an inner geek.

Everyday in 8th grade, my friends and I would sit at our lunch table, dice in hand, playing a Marvel Comics role playing game that was a cheap knockoff of D&D. This is ALL we talked about. I remember that I was Hercules, and my friends were Silver Surfer, Thor, and The Hulk. I picked Hercules because I was enthralled with Greek mythology.

In 9th grade, I made it on my school’s JV basketball team. I won the student-athlete award that year.

During my sophomore year, I could barely look a girl in the eye. I also started playing another weird spin off of D&D. This time it was at my church with our youth minister. We would gather at his house and roll odd shaped dice while exclaiming “My sword of righteousness beats your helmet of truth” or something like that. We would fight in the forest of apathy and in the mountains of insecurity. Weird.

I also made it to my team’s varsity basketball team. Aside from my basketball skills, I think the coach wanted me on the team to help tutor some of the other players. I again won the student-athlete award.

My social awkwardness melted away during my junior and senior years, and I gave my little inner geek friend a respite. I know my little friend is still there though, rejoicing over obscure facts, new technology, and the knowledge that one more computer in the house can never be enough.