I feel like this is a bit of a necro but I wanted to just talk for a second about how much I appreciate this community.
I started playing this game when I was 9, and joined the competitive community at 11. I was an annoying shit, and most people just kinda tuned me out. In any case, my escape for real life was this game. I loved playing it, I play it 24/7. If I had a bad day at school or something bullshit happened in my life I could always expect to be able to play on TF2c or on UGC and cheer myself up. About 2 years ago, life took a dip probably because I was an emo teenager. I got mood swings, I had practically zero energy, people at school weren't being nice, the whole 9 yards. Even then I could turn to this game and people within this community.
Now, 2 years have passed since I was at the lowest point and I haven't just rebounded, I am now an actual healthy functioning adult. I'm now 17 years old and I acquired a job at a college to lecture and tutor students on higher mathematics and physics. I've made actual friends in real life who I spend time with consistently. I even have a shot of joining a top school in the USA not just for undergrad or grad school; but to even play a sport there (even if its table tennis lmao). I still have my lows and things I can change, but now my outlook on life isn't just cringe-edgy teenager shit. I feel not only as if I have some autonomy in my own life but that I heading places that I really want to be, and I have nothing but you guys and this game to thank
Thanks TF2. I love all of you.