A History of the Geek Civilization (Jessica Zafra)

I was already 11 when I started to read “real” books. The first that I laid my hands on was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, thanks to my brother – in – law who was sweet enough to pass on to me his collection of the epic tale. After that, I had a taste of not – so – modern tales like Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass, Heidi, The Secret Garden, The Water Babies, and Black Beauty. When I got into high school, I began reading Paulo Coelho, Jodi Picoult, not to mention books like To Kill A Mockingbird, trilogies as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Hunger Games, and a book of poems that my sister bought from Assisi for me. I became engrossed with literary pieces that I sometimes skipped my review hours just to finish a book. My mom was not happy about it, and even threatened that she will “cut” my supply of books if I can’t discipline myself.

However, unlike the experience of Jessica Zafra, as narrated in her A History of Geek Civilization, I was able to pass Math and Sciences with grades that gave me a place in the class’ honor roll, which gave the people around an excuse to call me a geek. Our history is no different, after all – I think Ms. Zafra and I came from the same civilization that other people constructed for us. Back then, I didn’t like being called a geek because it reeked, but thanks to this article, I do not care anymore. I don’t think being called a geek is something that anyone has to be ashamed of.