Thank you
I am not sure if anyone still active follows this blog. I don’t even really use tumblr anymore, but I have been thinking about making this post for a while.
When I started this blog, I was 15 and going through a rough time in my life - I was going through some personal struggles and I was depressed. I had just started listening to a new band called 5sos, and their first album wasn’t even out yet. But their music was one of the only things that made me feel better at the time. (IYDK, WAYF, and disconnected in particular all hold a special place in my heart)
Late one night on vacation, I posted a fan art of the boys as voodoo dolls to a blog that only had about 12 followers. I woke up the next morning to tumblr notifications blowing up my phone - I watched the notes climb-200,300,500, and watched my followers go up too. I couldn’t stop staring at my phone. When I felt the most invisible, the 5sos fam found me.
I kept drawing fan art - every second I wasn’t busy, I was creating art dedicated to the band I loved so much. I found a wonderful community with the 5sos fam, and it truly changed my life.
I loved drawing so much, and I was finding success doing what I loved. My work was noticed by other artists I admired and even the boys (I almost passed out in the hallway at school when Michael tweeted my hair gif). I realized that I wanted to do this every day.
When I say that 5sos changed my life, I really mean it. I haven’t been active on this blog in 5ish years, but I went to college and got a degree in digital art. I’m a graphic designer, and I truly think that this website and this community are a huge part of that.
5sos is still one of my favorite bands (I saw them in concert in July - my second time seeing them :,) but this is my final post on Australienidiots. While my blogs birthday may always be marked in my calendar, I would like to leave it as it is, as a time capsule of what ended up being some of the best years of my life.
Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael - thank you for being an inspiration to me. Your music means the world to me, and there’s so much more I could say but if, you ever do come across this, know that I’ve loved watching your music grow and mature along with me - it’s one of my favorite things about 5sos. Happy 10 years boys.
Xoxo
Ashley
