As I walked around Cobo Hall and the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit at the famous Youmacon, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the sights and sounds I was experiencing. The cosplays I saw were outstanding the people wearing them even more so. I crawled into bed that night knowing that the friends and memories that I made that day were irreplaceable.

Even today, November 7, 2017, I still feel the effects of the convention whether they be good or bad. There are few words that I can use to describe the effects a convention has on me or what I feel after one. Some of these sensations last for a significant amount of time while others are short term. Here are 10 words that describe what I feel after a convention.

1. Inspired

Seeing so many people waking around in full sets of armor, intricate dresses, and cute and fun onsies makes me want to work on my craft even more. Right after I got home from the convention, I was ready to start on my next project! I was truly inspired by the cosplayers I saw.

2. Lethargic

There's always that feeling right after a convention of laziness and cloudiness. It's a feeling of questioning 'did that really just happen?' It was so exciting that I am sometimes in a haze for a good day or two after and I just feel like sleeping.

3. Accomplished

Not only do I feel great joy seeing others cosplay, but partaking in cosplay myself. I get a sense of pride whenever I am brave enough to wear a costume out in public when it's not Halloween.

Also getting asked to get a picture while dressed up is the best feeling in the world. Of course I don't need a picture to feel validated as a cosplayer, but it still gives me a rush of emotion and accomplishment and the ability to say 'yeah, I did that!'

4. Tired

Walking around a convention all day is no easy feat and it can leave me feeling satisfied but completely drained. It can be even more tiring if one is brave enough to wear stilettos or platform shoes.

5. Excited

Being a part of something as big as a fandom or a cosplay group is both exciting and memorable. Just getting to be at the convention gives me the butterflies. As soon as I walk into the doors of the convention center, I get so excited you would have thought that it was my first time.

6. Sad

They say every good thing must come to an end, but boy does it suck when I realize that I only have a couple more hours to hang out with my friends at a convention. During the school year, I barely get to see my friend because she lives on campus and it's one of the only times I get to see her and another friend that I only get to see once in a while because we are busy.

I am also sad to depart with the friends that I made at the convention and all of the fun memories I made. It's always bitter sweet.

7. Loved

Being in a community full of a diverse people who come from every skill level fills me with warmth and happiness. Being welcomed into that community makes me feel loved and accepted. The people I met at the convention were lovely and I was able to hold civil conversations with them about a common interest that we shared.

8. Eager

Usually after a convention, I am ready to start on my next project. I just can't wait until my next convention because I had such a great experience!

9. Energetic

I go through so much energy in one day at a con. Sometimes that energy comes from pure adrenaline or coffee and other times it comes from actual food. Either way the energy and adrenaline I feel during a convention is sometimes still there even though its long over.

10. Fulfilled

Youmacon is usually one of the only conventions that I get to go to in a year unless there is another convention that is easy to get to. And though it's only for a little while, I feel fulfilled by the experiences that I have had. Despite having to go back to reality the next day, I was able to have a great time and truly enjoy myself. I just can't wait until the next convention rolls around!