As a teenager, being labelled as ‘cringe’ by those around you was a badge of shame. The embarrassment still lingers for many of us and drives us away from the hobbies and interests that brought pure, unbridled joy to us as kids and adolescents. I noticed this in my late teenage years but it took me until my early twenties’ to reconnect with those things that once brought me joy.
I won’t pretend it’s been a linear process; I have had a few strange looks in social settings or awkward nods when I jump about to my favourite song in the pub. Despite some (minor) social setbacks, it has helped me gain an amazing group of friends who either enjoy what I enjoy, or will put up with me blabbing about it for more than an hour.
In the dark depths of my teenage years I was a huge K-pop fan, but tried my very best to keep it hidden (with limited success). During a class at school, I accidentally left my headphones at full volume, and suddenly BTS filled the room. I looked around and saw people staring and silently giggling at my ‘cringe’ choice of music. My heart shattered and I was so embarrassed that I never went back to that class.
Looking back, it was an insignificant social blunder for a twelve-year-old, but this was the moment I realised that it wasn’t the music I was embarrassed by, but the fear of being rejected by my peers.
This year, about eight years after the dreaded headphone incident, I attended a BTS concert in London, posted about it everywhere and let teenage me release all of that shame I had been holding onto for so long. In all honesty, I don’t listen to K-Pop or keep up with the ‘drama’ anymore, but that experience alone was one I will never forget.
Even now, I still feel a slight twinge of embarrassment about my interests from time to time (like when someone in the group chat reacts with a thumbs-down after to my suggestion of an “Emo karaoke night”). But in my opinion, the biggest flex is being unapologetically proud of what makes you happy.
I think that most of us have had an experience like this, even if we don’t want to admit it. Since starting university, I’ve realised that there are so many likeminded people who have had similar, if not identical, experiences to my own. So if there’s an interest or hobby you’ve been hesitant to share for fear of being judged, no matter how niche, know that you’re not alone!
At the end of the day, not everyone will share your interests, and that’s okay! Go to that concert or meet and greet, start that fan page, don’t let the embarrassment stop you from doing what you love!