Summarize this article in one sentence.
Nerds get the reputation for being in the clouds half the time because their minds are wandering, probing distant places or complex correlations and equations. For this reason, don't be afraid to be aloof, if that's who you are. Lose yourself in the intellectual areas that make you happy and help you feel connected to the world, even if it means you seem disconnected by the "depth" and "displacement" involved in your internalizing a singular passion.   Your passion could be anything, from cryptology to philosophy to Norse mythology to brewing. It could be anything from morphology to cardiology to numismatics or philately. Whatever it is, make it a blast! Set short- and long-term goals for yourself. The sooner you set yourself some goals (perhaps in an outline of variable and constant parameters, a rubric, or a protocol), the easier it will be to achieve them. Setting absorbing goals has the benefit of being especially nerdy! Think differently. Don't be afraid to tackle an idea or activity that isn't popular. (Realize that you may not have a great grasp of what is popular and what isn't in the first place. No matter!)   If you found that lining your car antenna with aluminum foil gives you better reception on the AM stations in your car, then go for it. A nerd does not care how their car looks if the radio station is playing properly. If you propose to test all your friends for an antibody not yet known to science, then go for it (with your friends' consent). A nerd does not care whether the world doubts their methods and challenges their findings. If you are interested in computer viruses and want to tell all your friends what a trojan is, then go for it! A lot of nerds like to learn about things that seem pointless to others. A nerd is on a constant quest for knowledge. A nerd doesn't always care whether the information they receive has any utility. The mere fact that it's simple, profound, or counter-intuitive is enough to make it cool. Read everything in your area(s) of interests that you can get your hands on, including reference books and encyclopedias. Read and watch the news enough everyday to be informed about what's going on beyond your community. Read fiction books, too, because they can help build your vocabulary and gives you a good sense of spelling. Read things that you like, but your parents don't approve of. For example, you like the Harry Potter books, but your parents claim that they will "give you nightmares." Read them! (The Harry Potter series isn't very scary at all. A little mature, maybe, but not horror.)   Take regular trips to the library. If you can't go physically, try checking out e-books. Read a variety of nonfiction and fiction books. Nonfiction teaches you new things. Fiction teaches you new perspectives. (Look for books about people who are different from you, such as people of different cultures, races, or disabilities. Also check out books that tackle major social issues.) Study several related languages. Try to pick up a language just for kicks; or maybe because a subject your learning about has original sources in the native tongue. Experiment with web-based translation machines. If you feel that learning a language is too hard, then try and learn Pig Latin. Pig Latin has a set of rules to go by in order to speak it, so it is very easy to learn. Extra cred goes to nerds who study a "dead" or fictional language, such as Cuman, Eyak, and Karankawa, or Elvish, Dothraki, or Klingon. Dead or fictional languages are exquisitely nerdy.  Note that informative reading doesn’t have to mean slogging through a dry, unbearable textbook. For an entertaining and informative read, try the funny physics classic Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, any of Brian Greene’s very popular and accessible science bestsellers, or well-researched historical fiction like I, Claudius (whose unlikely hero survives a particularly brutal period in the Roman Empire) or the hilarious Flashman novels (whose anti-hero is a lecherous scoundrel of the colonial British empire). Try to get a seat where you can clearly hear, see the teacher and chalkboard, and pay attention. A good goal to set for yourself is to try getting mostly As in everything you do at school, including homework. Take notes, study for that test, and focus. Most of all, come to school ready to learn and try not to worry about the social scene too much if it's uninteresting or uncomfortable.   Try some extra-curricular activities, such as robotics or math club, chess, or drama. Try to balance your extra-curriculars so that they don't bring your grades down. Ask a lot of questions in class. There is no such thing as a stupid question, remember? The only stupid question is the question you didn't ask. Do research above and beyond what is taught in class. YouTube channels such as Khan Academy, Crash Course, Vsauce, Numberphile, CGP Grey to name a few, offer the opportunity to get ahead at the convenience and enjoyment of your computer. Don't be afraid to look into online learning or get a tutor if you're struggling with a certain subject area. Everyone has certain subjects that don't come easily to them. Your school may offer free tutoring resources. Nerds deal with their anger and heartbreak in a productive way: they practice music, make art, or amend changes to their debate presentation before they lash out at other people. Don't cut yourself down. What other people say about you isn't necessarily who you are. Just don't pay attention to what they say about the way you are. Some nerds get by eating potato chips and using energy drinks to make up for poor sleep. These nerds need to step it up, because their habits are unsustainable. Taking good care of your body and mind is important if you want to be able to keep learning. Here are some things that help you stay sharp:   Eat fruits and vegetables every day. Even one is better than none. Establish a regular sleep schedule. Aim for 8+ hours to refresh your brain. Exercise at least 10 minutes per day. Taking a walk counts. Brush your teeth. Regular tooth-brushing improves longevity and reduces a surprising amount of health risks. Stay on top of any illnesses or medications. You're a nerd and you know it. You're also willing to be optimistic. You like who you are, even if it doesn't seem like very many other people do. (That's okay, they simply don't understand you.) The friends that you do have are good people who make you feel like you want to be alive. Life is pretty good.   It may not always be easy. Life can be tough. So can you. Nerds are resilient in challenging situations, willing to get up and keep going despite being knocked down. If optimism feels impossible, that's a sign of a problem. A nerd doesn't keep trying the same things if it's clear they aren't working. Find ways to change your life to be more advantageous to your success and well-being. Consult a counselor or doctor if needed; they are experts, after all.
Lose yourself in your passion. Don't be afraid to go beyond the ordinary. Always keep learning. Read voraciously. Pay attention in school. Channel any difficult feelings you may have into your passions. Be a healthy nerd, not a careless one. Choose to focus on the positive.