My roommate and I received a gnome our freshman year of college for our birthdays, which are both in October. We named him Gerome and displayed him proudly in our room for four semesters. This summer, we decided he needed some fresh air. I now post photos and the occasional video of Gerome exploring campus and the city beyond. And that's my summer project: creating and maintaining a quirky, adventuresome persona on social media.
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| A happy gnome by a happy building! |
This project is really helping me grow as a person, oddly enough. I'm thinking creatively, exploring Milwaukee more than ever before, and developing quite a healthy sense of humor (which is more than necessary when you're holding a gnome at arm's length and taking a picture of it on a bustling street corner). I'm learning a lot about how social media works and making connections with some really interesting people. It's a great experience, and it mostly happened because I was bored and feeling a little silly.
It's good to let go and not take things too seriously sometimes. Who cares if you get a few odd looks for crouching behind a statue holding up a gnome while your friend takes a picture? The result makes people smile. That's more fun than going through life without stirring the pot. Don't be afraid to shake things up, be creative, be quirky, make a fool of yourself. It's all part of the adventure!
Gerome is on Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Vine (@GnomeOnCampus), and Google+.
