Games That Change

By: Dyllan Tran

As a kid, my parents told us that video games were just a waste of time, and I accepted that statement as a fact. However, I realized how important playing video games were to me as I got older, in fact, my life would be way different without video games.

When I was younger, I struggled with making friends because I didn’t have anything interesting to talk about. I made my first friend in school when we were talking about a game we both played. After realizing that other kids like me also play games, I felt like it was easier to connect with other people.

Most of the games I played were “multiplayer”, so I would play a lot with my little brother which helped strengthen our relationship. Occasionally, my little brother wasn’t able to join me, so it forced me out of my comfort zone to play with others online. I realized that being able to talk and play with others online anonymously really boosted my self confidence, and it helped me overcome my shyness when I talked to other people in person.

Currently during this pandemic, video games help me stay connected with my friends. I wake up every morning looking forward to playing a game called Valorant with my friends. Valorant is a multiplayer game, which requires you to work together with others to win. I’ve made many memories while playing with my friends, which wouldn’t be possible without games during the pandemic.

I want to show others my perspective of gaming, and how it isn’t always bad. Hopefully, other parents will understand the importance of games, and games would help change other people’s lives.