The other day as I was working on a group project, we were getting ourselves situated and just making small talk, discussing majors, how hungry we were, our workload, that sort of stuff, and I mentioned that I have been working on a semester-long research project in my Teaching English as a Second Language class. My group responded as expected: with expressions of sympathy and kind looks, saying things like, “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” and “Wow, that really stinks!” But as soon as I said, “It’s actually okay though, I love my topic so I’m enjoying the work,” their expressions morphed into ones of confusion and disbelief and they looked at me as if I had spontaneously sprouted a third arm.

I tried to gloss over the stickiness by reassuring them that the work really wasn’t that bad, that I got to choose my topic so it was interesting to me, and that my professor was extremely helpful, but the damage was done. I had been labeled as *gasp* a NERD.

A nerd, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.” Let me be the first to say that this is a horrible definition. Shame on you, Merriam-Webster. Yes, a person that fits that description could fall under the category of a nerd, but we are so much more than that. To me, being nerdy is equitable to being passionate. A nerd is anyone anywhere who really really really loves something, whether it be computer games, a TV show, Harry Potter, soccer, history, taking pictures, writing, basket-weaving, rugby, or teaching English as a second language. And someone please tell me what is wrong with loving something and actively pursuing that thing because it brings you joy.

My favorite definition of a nerd that I have ever seen is one by John Green and it is as follows: Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. Nerds are allowed to love stuff – like, jump-up-and-down-in-your-chair-can’t-control-yourself love it. When people call people nerds, mostly what they’re saying is, “You like stuff,” which is not a good insult at all. Like, “You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness.”

I absolutely adore this definition. We nerds are passionate, we do what we love and we love what we do without regard to anyone else’s perceptions of us. But something I don’t understand is how society’s perception of nerds has become so distorted that calling someone a nerd is the same as calling them some other derogatory term, it’s meant as a put-down, a tease, or an insult. Why is that? This world would be so boring if everyone just went about their days with a hum-drum, unenthusiastic attitude.

Take a second a think about the best teacher you ever had. I bet you that they demonstrated a passion for their subject and that every single day they came in super pumped about English (or whatever subject it was) and absolutely could not wait to show you how awesome writing a 40-minute timed essay on "Heart of Darkness" was. That teacher was a nerd and you loved them.

Now think about the best speech you’ve ever heard. It probably wasn’t a dry lecture on cell division, it was probably a speech that gave you goosebumps, inspired you, and was given by someone who was so completely invested in and passionate about their topic that they couldn’t help but pass along that passion to everyone else. Take Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. That is probably one of the most well-known and most beautiful speeches in history, and that man was nothing if not a civil rights nerd.

So next time someone calls you a nerd, turn and look them full in the face, give them the biggest smile you can muster, and say, “Thank you,” because that person just told you that you are unashamedly passionate about the things that make you happy, and that is one of the most wonderful compliments that someone can give you.