In my real life, I must say that I have some pretty awesome friends. So I now present to you a guest blog from my good best friend Emily (she was my co-blogger on the role models for women post.) So please, enjoy and respect the nerds! (which I would consider myself as well at times, go us!).. I also have to say to my good friend, don’t think you are unattractive girl! You are gorgeous, and don’t ever doubt it. (actually, I find the first three descriptors in the nerd definition to be untrue. Nerds are awesome in their own way, and if they own it, then they are style, gorgeous, and sociable. SO THERE! lol).. So without further ado (and without more of my blabbing nonstop), I present:

——- 

nerd \ˈnərd\ (noun) : an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially : one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuitsFrom Merriam Webster Dictionary Online 

Hmm… “slavishly devoted” to school? I have raised my hand about thirty times per English class to voice my opinion on the literature we’re discussing. I also felt a bit disheartened when my grade in Government dropped from a 102% to a 100%. When I was in sixth grade, I thought knee socks were amazingly cool, and I wore them with my plaid skirts. I’ve had some ultra-weird looking glasses before that I now consider “unstylish” and “unattractive.” For a while, it was near impossible for me to carry on a normal conversation with a boy that didn’t have anything to do with school. Although I may say otherwise, I really do enjoy school most of the time. But I never felt “slavishly devoted” to school or “intellectual or academic pursuits.”  Apparently, I fit all of the aforementioned criteria for being a nerd except for the last one (and some will debate that), but I’ve come to terms with that.  As an experienced nerd, I’ve come up with some guidelines that are helpful if you want to be friends with me (or another nerd, for that matter).

1. Please, please, please, don’t ask me what I got on a test if my good grade will make you feel bad. I don’t get good grades to make people sad. I don’t always do well on tests, and I know that it makes a person feel crappy when someone who did a lot better gloats and brags about it. I don’t gloat. I don’t brag. So please do not ask if you don’t want to know. Ha— a whole new meaning to the don’t ask, don’t tell policy. J
2. Don’t make fun of me for complaining a little about getting a 96% or whatever grade I’m complaining about. If I feel that I could have done better on the assignment, then who are you to criticize me? Just because my grade is decent doesn’t mean it’s the best I could do. I feel good about myself when I do my BEST, and when I do anything less, I get a little discouraged.
3. Just play along when I get passionate about literature. I know you may not care about Jay Gatsby or Hermione Granger as much as I do, and that is okay with me. I know that literature is not something that most teens feel passionately about, but it is something that I am passionate about. In turn, when you get passionate about your new lip gloss, I will play along also.
4. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT make a big deal out of it when I talk to a boy that I like. It’s hard enough for me to figure out how to be “normal” around him, and I don’t need a lot of attention drawn to me, or him, or especially us.
5. Don’t feel bad about asking me for help on schoolwork. I always ask someone when I need help in school, I usually don’t mind helping others. All I ask is that you give me ample time to help (don’t ask 30 seconds before the bell rings), and if I’m really really busy, try to ask someone else if you can. I truly don’t mind helping. After all, friends don’t let friends fail. J

All in all, nerds are generally nice people. Come talk to us! J J