Well well; so it seems I have the one year Vahi now. Oh, the implications of this...

Now I know that many people here will stand and point to their superior year symbols, but regardless, this is still a big thing for me. When I joined one year ago, I was already a member of the BS01 Wiki, and Wikipedia before that, so my only real reason for joining at the start was to be able to PM GregF for information to add to those sites. But before long, I realized that there was so much more BZP had to offer, so I set out to see what the site was all about. In no time at all, I found myself having the time of my life: people to talk to, great topics to share my tastes in, theories (ah yes, the theories... ) to prove and disprove, and most of all the OGD. Granted, I did make my share of spam posts and didn't read policies out of ignorance, but I learned and made sure I set myself straight. I got a one year Premier Membership about a month or so after I came to BZP; it was an enticing idea, what can I say? Loads of fun was to be found in making polls and getting a blog, plus I thought it gave me a sense of dignity I didn't possess as a normal member, knowing that I had contributed in some small way to the upkeep of the forums. It wasn't a prideful dignity, like the feeling you would get after you won a race or something; it was more the type of feeling you got when you did a chore well which made your parents happy. That reminds me, I really must renew my PMship soon...

I must say that the Proto Energy boosts certainly presented an exciting prospect. They gave me something to strive for, and the thought of losing any kept me from doing anything stupid. I would have liked to get at least one boost for good behavior, but hey, I'm happy with getting 'em all from news reports and my Premier Membership. And then of course there came the time when I became a POBZPC; one of the proudest moments of my time here, if I may say so, though in the long run it doesn't mean a whole lot. There are plenty of great members who have never gotten a single PE boost for anything. But it felt (and feels) awesome to be counted among that group just the same.

Ah yes, and then there came my promotion to Fact Team member. The shining moment of my time on BZP; I can't say it sums up who I am on this site, nor can I say it's brought me the most happiness, but it's still what stands out the most and I'm both proud and rather shocked that I'm on the Team. Sadly, I haven't had half as much time to do work associated with it as I would like, since my personal life is pretty busy much of the time, and being a Moderator on BS01 takes a huge chunk out of my time (we simply need more staff). I don't claim to be the best FT member (that'd probably go to Adventurer IMO) or even a good one, but I've made a fair enough mark given my circumstances. I remember the thrill I got when bonesiii sent me the PM asking if I'd like to be on the Team; it was indeed a unique feeling, especially since I didn't know my storyline knowledge was that good. XD

Speaking of bonesiii, this brings me to the subject of role models. I've had a few in my short time here, but the major ones I'll state. First off is bonesiii; I've always admired his dedication and his profoundly good use of logic, and while I do disagree with some of his opinions (yes, opinions, not tastes; I agree with him on tastes XD), he's been the biggest figure in my development on BZP. Next would probably be Screenguy; he is quite possibly the single nicest person I've ever met online: he's quiet, polite, never loses his temper, and knows what his job entails and exactly how to do it right, all of which I greatly admire, and he's been a great friend/role model for me. Then there's Black Six. And no, I don't just look up to him because he's the one who gave me all my Proto boosts; he's really a great guy, and I've always admired him for the leadership he's given the site. There are a multitude of other people that I admire as well, but bonesiii, Screenguy, and B6 are the main three.

I've also managed to acquire quite a few friends in my time here. Some of them I wish I knew better, some of them I wish I knew less (XD), but I'm incredibly grateful for all of them. They helped me get through the difficult times, and they're all just as real to me as any other friends I've ever had, sometimes more so. More than anything, I just feel lucky to have met them all, as I've never had more than one really good friend in my entire life, and he's long gone; so having so many people who actually want to be friends with me is something I still have yet to get used to, and it's a source of great happiness. So here's to all of those whom I call friends. Thanks guys; without you I wouldn't be here.

Now I want everyone to know that BZP is not just another website to me, not just another place for mindless chatting and stupid hobbies. It's a sanctuary; someplace I can go to relax and let my worldly troubles drift away, if even for a little while. It's where I can share my ideas and catch up with people. It's a haven for info about the toy line I've grown so fond of. It's a place where I can get a few laughs and generate a few myself. I'm not obsessed with it; but then again, maybe so. In the end I don't think it matters that much so long as my personal affairs don't go down the drain because of it. But yeah, I love this site, and the memories I've gotten out of it can never be taken away from me; for that I'm grateful.

All in all, it's been quite a ride. I've been honored to be a part of BZPower, and I hope to be on this bandwagon for a great while longer.

-- Cheers, Gravitan