100 Days of Mockingjay - Kelsi's THG Story

Week 1 of our 100 Days of Mockingjay celebration is all about Your THG Story. Read about how to contribute yours here.

Kelsi is one of the writers here at PanemPropaganda and a contributor to our Facebook page. Here is Kelsi's THG Story:

I read The Hunger Games when the book first came out and I remember thinking immediately: “this is going to be HUGE!” I fell in love with the story, as well as with the character of Katniss and the fire that burned within her, noting her courage and deep compassion for those who matter most to her. I admire Suzanne Collins for her excellent writing skills, for being able to tell such an incredible and timely story with such strong characters. I aspire to be able to write like that and to someday have even an iota of the effect on others as Suzanne and her story has had on me.

I, like many fan-girls and fan-boys out there, am quite introverted. I have my moments of being socially awkward. In addition, I have struggled with OCD and depression for most of my life. Books and movies have always been my escape, so I have a variety of books, movies, celebs, series, etc. that I love and obsess over. Finding fandoms has made a profound difference in my life. It offered me the opportunity to belong amongst like-minded individuals and has ultimately helped me to feel a little more confident. The Hunger Games was something special, though. It has been the most welcoming and loving community that I have had the honor to be included in, allowing me to make new friends and have some incredible experiences.

As we head towards the final movie, I take comfort in knowing that the deep fandom bond will always be there. I will forever carry the label of “Tribute” with pride, as a badge of honor, with my three-finger salute, held high for all to see.

You can follow Kelsi on twitter and instagram at @kelsilouwho.