The Goth Challenge: Day One

 Day I: How did you come across the subculture?

     Even when I was young, wanted to be a pop singer, and wore pink on a daily basis, I had always been sort of curious about “dark” things and the beauty in them, they just weren’t a part of my life yet.

      In 6^th  grade, my father introduced me to more alternative types of music. I became interested in alternative fashion, but I didn't yet have the confidence or knowledge to begin wearing it myself.

       In 7^th grade, I started wearing whatever I wanted- at the time, mainly neon colours, interesting leggings, skirts, skinny jeans, and various coloured shirts. It was interesting, but I still didn't feel quite myself yet.

       Finally, the end of 7^th grade arrived, and my friend and I became interested in (what we saw as) goth. Of course, that was just when my "babybat" period began. I didn't realize quite yet what goth was actually about. I loved the dark clothes, and I discovered that black just felt so comfortable on me. But, I also liked scaring people and being "creepy”, and I mistakenly thought that those things were a big part of gothic culture. I also thought Evanescence, Slipknot, and Marilyn Manson were the most goth bands ever and that if I listened to them, it would get me recognized as a "cool goth person" or something.

    I didn't really come across the "Goth Scene Proper" (as I've heard it called) until this past summer. I think I discovered it so late because in 8^th grade, I was a typical babybat, content to blunder about and try my best to be “creepy”, and in 9^th  grade I just didn't care enough/have time enough to look around on the Internets for real goth culture, and there have only been a few other goths in my small town. So, being in 10^th grade as of now, I guess I'm sort of JUST departing from my babybat years.

    I don’t really think there’s much of a “goth scene” around where I live. Apparently they have a goth/industrial night in Salem, which is near where I live, but sadly it’s 21+ and it’s the only thing I’ve seen advertised here.  I rarely see other goths when I’m out places. I think they may all be hiding. 
   I believe that about sums it up, this was a difficult question to answer.