Compelled to post to say thank you after randomly stumbling across old profile

Hello!

This is bizarre but I feel compelled to post to share the last hour or so with you.

I haven't been on TheSite.org in literally eight years or so but used it extensively as a (troubled) teenager. I spent a lot of time on the family computer Bebo-ing away, writing posts on here all while playing the Sims and avoiding college. I had all but forgotten this site until it popped into my head while I was trying to get to sleep (jetlag). I googled my old username and was greeted by hundreds of very frank and open posts. It's so weird reading your own posts - it's like the teenage version of you coming back to haunt you, thank god this forum is anonymous!

After reading some of my excruciating posts and replies, I felt compelled to write just to say a big old thank you to anyone who used or moderated the site at the time, back in the heady days of 2007/8. I don't think online communities get enough credit, but this site was a really important place for me as a teenager for me to express my feelings.

Posts on here helped me learn more about life outside the little town I grew up in and about going to university etc, which I eventually did. And some responses helped me see things from different points of view (ie my parents) while getting me to open up.

A lot has changed in the last decade both societally and for me personally, and I can't help but think forums and 'safe spaces' are going to be more important than ever.

For anyone who is interested in what happened to troubled 'JustThinking..X' or me - she talked herself into university despite having no a-levels and managed to get a 2:1 but most importantly made a normal group of friends. And despite my record for poor spelling, I'm now a journalist by trade. Feel very lucky to be doing something I love and in a fortunate position after a precarious few years between the ages of 16 to 20.

So thank you to all who spent time/ effort and energy spent humouring my bizarre posts about drugs, relationships and god knows what else. Despite my bad spelling, and the fact I was a complete chav, people spent time responding and offering me sound and reasoned advice at a time where I probably wasn't getting it elsewhere, mainly because I struggled to talk about these problems in real life (but didn't have any issue on here!). I am so glad to see it is still up and running and I hope others are continuing to benefit as I did

So thanks again everyone