When I first came to WKU, I had no idea what a “TopperFella” was. I had never even seen the small, strange gray figures hidden around campus.
However, upon assignment for the WKU Talisman, everything changed.
Tali Tries: Behind the scenes of TopperFella gave me an inside look at what exactly a TopperFella was. What started as a model the TopperFella creator printed for fun turned into a campus-wide phenomenon.
While I truly enjoyed writing the article, I thought it was just a one-off thing. A chance to write a fun article, highlight a cool campus mini-celebrity, and then move on.
Then came TopperFella Trade Day.
TopperFella Trade Day was created as a result of the massive growth TopperFella had experienced.
“Just based on the growth of TopperFella over the last six months, it felt like there was a need for an official space where students could meet up, share their collections, and trade Fellas,” the TopperFella creator said. “It also seemed like a great opportunity to run a little bit of a donation drive to help scale TopperFella up next Fall and beyond.”
However, since the creator is anonymous, they couldn’t actually attend the event. They had to rely on others to make sure it ran smoothly.
This is where I come in.
I was asked to help participate in the event. I had worked with the TopperFella creator before, meaning I am in the know of their true identity (and no, I won’t tell you).
I wasn’t working alone. Keaton King, an online Western student, would be aiding in making this event a success. Leading up to the day, we were introduced to the full scope of what our jobs entailed.
My job was to pass out Trade Day Fellas and Grad Fellas, while King was manning the donation booth. Fans could donate to receive either a Fella Stand, a pair of super cute earrings, or a sticker.
During the event, there was also a live Q&A with the TopperFella creator through an online chat website, a raffle, and tables set up so fans could show off collections.
Leading up to the event, I can’t lie – I was nervous. While the TopperFella creator anticipated around 80-100 people to attend based on an Instagram poll, there was truly no way to know who would show up.
We set up for the event an hour before, and my heart was pounding. What if no one showed up? What if Trade Day wasn’t a success?
When the TopperFella creator finally slipped out the back, and the doors were opened, I sighed with relief as people came in.
And then more people came in.
And then even more people came in.
Even with people rushing through the door, a line had formed out the doorway and spilled into the Downing Student Union.
The anticipated 80-100 number was absolutely blown out of the water.
By the end of the event, based upon donations and the number of Trade Day Fellas given away, the TopperFella creator estimated at least 200 people had popped in.
Some people stopped by for ten minutes, while others hung around for the entire two-hour period.
Never in my life have I seen such a positive community. I watched shy FellaFans break out of their shell and pass around Fellas to one another. I watched FellaFans with massive collections give Fellas to those who did not have any.
I watched people show kindness to strangers. I watched people show up for each other.
The entire time I was grinning. I felt myself becoming more outgoing, just from being surrounded by so much joy. The energy in the room was electric, voices bounced from wall to wall as people discussed these funny little Fellas.
By the end of the event, I didn’t even feel tired. I could only feel so much love for the amazing community that had shown out.
As the day turned to dusk, and the event turned into a memory, I sat down to write this and was hit with the full force of everything.
Writing this article today means more to me than anyone could know.
The Talisman TopperFella article was one of the first big articles I had ever written. Sure, I had done something about Bojack Horseman, and yeah, I had given you a playlist based upon your college – but TopperFella was different.
When I first encountered TopperFella, it was an Instagram account that had around 200 followers.
As I write this today, it has surpassed 1,200.
When I first encountered TopperFella, I was a fresh face on campus, searching for where I belonged. I was learning how to be a journalist. I was searching for my passions.
As I write this today, I know where I belong. I have written many stories I’m deeply proud of. But TopperFella – it may be my favorite.
When asked what encouraged them to make TopperFella during the Q&A, the creator said, “Last September, I was close to shutting it down. Big shoutout to Emma for reaching out to do the Talisman article. The momentum from that, and the continued fan engagement is what it’s all about for me!”
As my eyes landed upon those words, I had to stop myself from crying. Because those words right there – that is what journalism is about.
Journalism isn’t about beating people down, it’s not about sensationalism or hatred. Journalism is about community. It’s about highlighting the beautiful things that exist within this chaotic world.
TopperFella is one of the most amazing things I’ve ever had the chance to write about. The goal of TopperFella is to spark joy, inspire creativity, and bring people together. I can confidently say it has done all of those things tenfold.
The community I felt during TopperFella Trade Day was like no other. It was a room of people, united by one thing – their love for these 3D printed figures.
It feels only right that my big finish to the year be right back where I started, once again writing about these strange, gray figures hidden around campus. Almost a year has passed since that first article. I have changed. TopperFella has changed. We have grown — and it feels like, grown together.
So, thank you.
Thank you, TopperFella, for allowing me on the inside. Thank you for giving me a chance to show the world just how great this little Fella is. Thank you for supporting me and allowing me to support you.
Thank you, Student Publications for giving me a chance to use my voice, for the positive and the negative. Thank you for teaching me to grow, not just as a writer, but as a person. Thank you for every opportunity you have given me.
Thank you, you, the reader, for clicking on my articles. Thank you for giving me the motivation to continue writing. Thank you for caring about your community, whether it be large-scale national issues or 24-millimeter tall figures.
TopperFella has great things planned for next academic year.
I have great things planned for next academic year.
Wherever we may be headed, I hope that TopperFella and I continue to grow alongside each other.
Keep searching for those TopperFellas. Keep posting those Instagram stories. Keep caring about your community. Because if I learned anything today, I learned that your community cares about you too.
Happy hunting.
