This month marks five years since I joined the blogging website, Tumblr. I was a sophomore in high school when I created my account. At first, I had no idea how to use the site. I spent many nights up late blogging and chatting with other users. Then, I saw my follower count rise. Now, I have almost 5,000 followers. But, over the years, I have gained more than followers. I think that Tumblr has made me the person that I am today. Tumblr has given me my sense of humor, music taste, meaningful friendships and helped me realize I wasn't alone.

I have Tumblr to thank for my unique sense of humor. When scrolling through Tumblr, one will find an assortment of text posts, vines, and memes. Tumblr users definitely have their own definition of what is funny. I could be rolling on the floor laughing at a post and show the same post to a non-user and they would just not get it.

Without Tumblr, I would not have my music taste. When I first joined, I found a community of people who were just as obsessed with the Beatles as I was. I learned more details about their lives and songs from Beatles blogs than any biography about the band could ever teach me. If you look hard enough, there is a fandom for every band and artist there is. Tumblr opened my ears to music from bands and singers, new and old, that I had never discovered before. When you start to see the blogs you follow reblog pictures, audio posts, and concert videos of the same band, you become interested and want to check them out. About nine times out of ten said band is worth the hype. Tumblr started my obsession with multiple artists including Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg, The Smiths, and many more.

On Tumblr, I made friendships with people all over the country and world. Since one's Tumblr highlights their interests and beliefs, it makes it easy to connect with other users. I know I can randomly chat with anyone of them about our common interests or just life.

Most importantly, Tumblr helped me realize that I wasn't alone. It helped me find outlets, resources, and people to talk to when to when I'm feeling self-conscience, anxious or depressed. There are blogs dedicated solely to these issues and master posts of resources that can help one cope.

Thank you, Tumblr. I would not be the person I am without you. I believe all those late nights spent blogging were not a waste.