Platinum Heart's Birthday Week Activity #2: What Have You Gained From PH?

I've been on PH for a while, though not as long as the progenitors from the old sites of course, but a decently long while. I joined when I was at the end of Middle School, a cringy little kid with something to prove and the world to grasp, as far as I was concerned. And along the way, going through the ups and downs of life, the shit storm that has hit me non-stop (to which I'll never see as an excuse for the things I've done in negative), PH has had its part in forming and shaping me to who I became today, for better or worse.

More than anything, the skills I've grasped are largely a result of PH. My management skills and self-discovery, tendency to introvert and introspect, logician approach to problems and renaissance man/autodidact aspirations; all these things were influenced by my time here in PH.

I've bounced here back and forth, often times never staying active for more than two months, so as far as participating in PH, I've really only been "here" for some two years or so. But that's been more than enough to push me forward as a person and as a writer, graphic designer, web designer, and roleplayer.

Without PH, I never would've delved so deeply into physical sciences. PH also reinvigorated my interest in the sciences; when I was in middle school, my desire to become a chemical engineer died out. And now, with the inclusion of science in some of my character's abilities, my field of study and occupation is physics and relative sciences.

Without PH, I never would've delved so deeply into programming. When I was in high-school, I was taking web design classes at local community colleges, doing self-study on python and C#, and being hired as a web designer and social media admin for a few non-profit organisations.

Without PH, I never would've delved so deeply into graphic work. I took a graphic design class at my school, went around different sites taking in different styles and methods of graphic work, even got back into drawing on my own, and being commissioned for a number of pieces and graphic editing for some artists at large conventions.

Without PH, I never would've taken such an interest in HR work, developing my leadership skills at my workplace and a better understanding of myself and others, to the point that my secondary field of study is psychology, as is a portion of my job.

In a lot of ways, PH has contributed or sparked a flame of inside that has pushed me forwarded and motivated me to be better than myself. A lot of self-discovery and search for purpose was drawn from here, from the advice of the members and examples set by a lot of you. In a way, some of you guys also showed me what not to do in life, and I think I've avoided some circumstances less than appreciable as a result, so thanks for that as well.

Unfortunately, I'm still young, immature, and developing on all levels, emotionally, mentally, and physically. So, there's still a lot to learn, and there's still a lot to intake. Fortunately, I also know that means I haven't reached my peak, and from hereon out and many years, I hope PH can help fruitfully cultivate me to reach that potential, and in turn I hope to supply as much of that back into PH.

Thanks for all the years of learning.