AnimeOTK - It's AnimeOTK's tenth Birthday this month

It doesn't feel like it's been almost ten years. Wow.

Oh boy, where to begin. Long post ahead. Probably the longest post that'll exist in this thread.

I joined the site in November 2007 under the username Jinli (changed to Captain Catnip, then to Nene) and introducing myself under the name of Kassi Chleer (not at all close to my legal name), after a couple months of lurking and pondering whether or not to join. I was in my early teens. I made up an entire persona to protect my identity. I'd felt like I was all alone in this whole spanking interest (intrigued by the concept since the age of four, that's a long time of feeling weird and lonely) until I started finding artwork and stories and then I stumbled upon this website and I found it to be... home.

I had just started drawing using my computer when I joined the site (most of those early images have been deleted) and I was inspired by Arkham Insanity, Okamishonen and Cross-chan to improve and develop my own art style. I worked a lot on my proportions and I couldn't believe how much I've improved. It's all thanks to the helpful comments and advice from other artists. In addition to drawing, I learned how to balance out the drama in my writing through roleplays. I learned about character development, sentence structure, and how not to go all god mode. I learned how to be fair and communicate efficiently with my roleplay partners.

Now it's time for me to be a little bit of a drama queen. In my teens I struggled with the effects of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Type 3/HEDS (a physical disease and disability) and profound mental instability. To those of you who had stuck around through the darkest points in my life, to the entire safe environment that is AnimeOTK, thank you. Thank you. I know I was incredibly frustratingly stubborn and sometimes would not listen to the voice of reason. Those things that might have appeared so insignificant to you all were so huge to me and your caring and support saved my life and helped me put things into perspective. You all helped me focus on what was important.

I am now a college student, turning 23 in June, I live on my own an hour away from home with two roommates (one of which is my best friend) and a beautiful, snuggly excitable dog. I am safe, I am well cared for and I am stable. I do not know where I would be today without your love and support.

Happy 10th birthday, AnimeOTK.

Tl;dr version - I can't imagine my life without this website and the wonderful people that I've come to know. I met some of the most important people in my life here and I hope this website sticks around for many years to come.

~Love, Nene