Before I log off for my social media detox, I want to ask you all a question. I know I did a Marina appreciation theead awhile back, but I have another question for you all. How has Marina helped you or had a positive impact on your life? And, in the same vain, @Marina I have a question for you. Have your fans ever had a positive impact on your life? If so, how? Share your responses here (if you feel comfortable doing so). I'll share mine when I come back online (about 2 days or so). Can't wait to read all your responses.
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I have thought about a possible answer to this for a little while. I think my answer for this may have been different several months ago, but I have been struggling with a response since July. I've had some feelings to sit with, so to speak, since then, which have not been positive. I do hope to have some of those feelings resolved as time goes on and, possibly, with future experiences.
If nothing else, I can speak for the character of Deanna Troi.
After some difficult mental and emotional hurdles from completing a Ph.D and working full time, among other things in my personal life, I needed an outlet that was very different than what I'd worked with for so long. I needed a completely different experience. That was when I started watching Star Trek for the first time. I'm not much of a television person, but I wanted to watch the show. When I started watching TNG, I was immediately a fan of Deanna, and I was intrigued by her character. I was disappointed that she wasn't given more time and attention. I wanted to see a great deal more done with her. Post-Ph.D, I took a long vacation from reading. It had once been a favorite hobby of mine, but I was so burned out from doing so much of it under pressure, that I had given it up. I couldn't bring myself to do it. My love of the character, however, was so great that I wanted to "spend more time" with her, so I started reading Deanna-centric novels. In that way, I got back to reading, and back to the joy that hobby brings to my life. (I also got to enjoy the show, and became a fan of the entire Star Trek franchise).
Good question , Val. I started watching TNG in 1991 and Troi was my favorite character ever since I've watched the episode 'The child'. I was addicted to TNG and this is how I learned my English.The show's English level is pretty high, and reading TNG fanfics helped me expend my knowledge. Eventually I bacame an English teacher and it lasted for nearly 20 years.
Ever since I was a teenager, every time I read Marina's interviews or watched her in a con, I took a little bit of it with me. I started to use more humor and work on my assertiveness( it is still a work in progress). I think Marina is a great, strong role model who definately influenced my life.
I was first drawn to Deanna Troi in TNG 1987, I was 7 almost 8. I loved her accent and was drawn to her empathy. As an adult I had the honour of meeting Marina for the 1st time in 2016... my life would never be the same. Because of her, I have traveled to so many places I never dreamed I'd go and I've made some life long friends I never would have known without our mutual love for her.
Most of all, though, I have been privileged to get to know Marina even a little bit irl. She has taught me more than I could ever say and I'm so grateful to her for sharing herself with us.
I first saw Marina on TNG when it first aired in 1987. I wanted to be just like her! Intelligent, empowered, gorgeous, confident, and consummate professional.
I literally cried when I thought "Generations" was the end of the line and my last chance to ever see Deanna again. Fast forward, thank goodness Deanna has been back numerous times 😉 But most importantly, I made the attempt to find out more about Marina after 1994 and that's when I realized I loved Marina more. It took me FOREVER to finally meet her, but as she says, "better late than never".
I shared this with Marina at Raleigh Con and now I want to share it with all of you. I shared with Marina at Raleigh Con how she has helped me, and now I want to share with all of you. Marina has shown me how to stand up for my beliefs and never give up in the face of adversity. Marina has also helped me with discovering/forming my identity. About a year ago, I took a DNA test to learn more about my father's side of the family, as I knew next to nothing about them. I always felt like a part of me was missing. Through both the test results and historical documents I found through research, I discovered that my father's side is 100% ethnically Greek, making me half ethnically Greek. I then started teaching myself Greek and exploring Greek culture. When I referred to myself as Greek-American, however, I was told by several people that no Greek would ever accept me as Greek-American. After sharing this Marina, she told me those people are idiots and that I have the power to choose my own identity. She said that, since I do have Greek heritage, there's nothing wrong with my identifying as Greek-American. Marina taught me that one can take away my identity or dictate how I should identify and, for that, I am forever grateful. 🥰
Great question. From all the fan stories that I've been reading Marina really does appriciate her fans. Which is one of the reasons that I repsect her. There are tons of people that are known that have no authentic/genuine respect for their fans. Marina really does care. What I've learned from the charecter Troi that Marina plays is that we are all beautiful in our own unique ways. That, it's ok to be different. So, thanks to Marina for being such a possitive role model for many people.
I find it admirable that she cares for her fans. I hope she realizes how much many of us care for her.
Marina made me laugh out loud and reminded me that there is joy in life when I really needed it. She's been my role model and has been with me since I was 11. Sharing a hug and dancing with her at FedCon are memories that make me happy every day. She's a light in my life. I hope I can pay her back in some way.