Benjamin Nugent Case

Benjamin Nugent, The Nerd

Benjamin Nugent, the author of "American Nerd: The story of my people", is considered a nerd. Throughout his book Benjamin tells many historical events in order to help explain the definition of a nerd. In these stories he refers back to his childhood and how he was a nerd. Nothing has changed; Benjamin is still a nerd, except unlike most nerds he was able to find a way to reach out to the world. Most nerds would not want attention on themselves so they would not speak out like Benjamin. Even though Benjamin was able to speak out and express himself, he is still considered a nerd because the majority of his qualities fit his own description of a nerd.

Benjamin has forced himself to fit in to places where he does not fit in. When

Benjamin spoke to us at the Bradley Center, he told us how when he went to college he purposely roomed with students that would drink, smoke, and do drugs. He wanted to fit in with these students because he thought they were the cool kids. He later explained how he regretted that because that was not his lifestyle. His following year he roomed with people that would be considered nerds and he enjoyed that much more.

Also, if Benjamin was not a nerd, he would not try to stick up for nerds. Benjamin says that nerds are "rule-loving, un-athletic men and women" (Nugent,2008,p34) who try to rebel against the public norm in America. He is very defensive in the way that he tries to define a nerd. Benjamin says himself that people who are not nerds, do not associate with nerds. If what he says is true, then he is a nerd because he tells us many stories about him associating himself with nerds.

Lastly, Benjamin admitted to us that he used to be a nerd. People do not change, if he used to be a nerd then he is still a nerd. He might be putting on a fake front so that people do not look at him as a nerd, but on the inside he knows who he truly. This happens a lot nowadays, it is hard to find someone who acts like themself. People act fake in order to fit in with the society that we live in. I believe that is what Benjamin is doing.

In conclusion, Benjamin Nugent fits his own description of a nerd. Although he spoke out to the public, unlike most nerds, it does not change who he is. Benjamin has tried to change himself as a person in order to fit in better, but he realized that was not possible. This left him off the same way how he started, as a nerd.