He Feels Unworthy, Even Fearful of Being in the Fandom

Dear Papabear,

I want to thank you for all of the help you provided me with last time I wrote to you, which must have been 2-3 years ago now. I'm now in college studying a whole bunch of science and maths (complex numbers are awesome).

So anyway, my question. I've been involved in the fandom for many years and while my haunting memories of the past are now nothing but haunting memories, I don't really feel like I fit in in the fandom due to how bad I am at art and music and animation and pretty much everything the furry fandom is. I'd practice but I'm still very apprehensive about drawing; it's been a few years since I picked up a pencil and that wasted time is something I regret.

I'm moving to University in September but I'm pretty worried that such a thing might mean that I'd retreat back into the closet and not have the chance to do the things I wanna do. (I've heard nightmare stories of people getting beat up over it in a certain upper-class university)

I have the funds to go to conventions and stuff (I won the money in a science fair competition over here) but I just can't find the motivation to go as some small part of me still finds the fandom weird and strange. (I find that such a small part seems to contradict everything else at times).

So... How do I feel like a part of the fandom and contribute? Because now it feels like I could do so much more this year, before I move.
 
Glyn (age 18)
 
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Dear Glyn,
 
Glad I was able to help you earlier and glad that you are attending university and finding success.  I’ve heard your concern before from other furries who seem to have come under the impression that they are unworthy to be furries if they are not artists or writers or performers or whatnot.  I’m befuddled as to how this notion has come about in the furry culture because it simply isn’t true (perhaps it is a desire to become a popufur?). You don’t have to create furry art or be a fursuit maker or whatever to be in the fandom.  Just have fun with it!  Not everyone is a talented artist (I certainly am not), but that doesn’t make you any less a furry.
 
As for getting beaten up at a university for being a furry…. I have not heard that story so would need to see an article or something. I find that people at universities tend to be more openminded and liberal about such things.  I don’t think you really have much to fear.
 
Since you have the money (congrats on your award), I would encourage you to attend furcons.  Go to the various panels, talk to people, and through this you will probably get some ideas as to how you can contribute.  Just one idea that pops to mind is you could volunteer to help at a furcon.  Cons are always seeking people to help out because it is such a HUGE task to run a con, and I’m sure they would welcome your contributions.
 
The more exposure you get to the fandom, the more comfortable you will become and the less “weird” it will feel to you as you make new friends and learn about fun things to do.
 
Good Luck!
Papabear