For my this I believe essay I chose to take a different path. Although a lot of the things that I believe in coincide with everyone else’s, such as my belief in friends, family, myself, and even in a good automobile. I have a different type of belief. I believe in video games.
From the time I was little, I had few friends. It wasn’t that I didn’t try to make friends or that I hated everyone. I was just the kid that everyone picked on: the overweight, low confidence kid with the glasses. Prime suspect to jeers and rants from my classmates. Not being as wise as I am now to ignore these insults, I took them straight to heart. Each day I would be berated and barraged, but there was sweet sanctity, My Nintendo 64.
Playing a game to me, was like entering another world. I could be a powerful swordsman, a being from the future, even a short Italian plumber if I so chose too. All of the sudden I was important. I was the star. I was powerful and respected. If I had an enemy I my way, instead of crying, I’d simply defeat him and move on in order to reach my ultimate goal. The simple fact that I had finished a game would send my mind into ecstasy. This small, overweight, nearsighted child could save an entire planet, rescue a princess, or just get to the next level all in the comfort of my own home. Noone could stop me, I was a 10 year old god.
The few friends I had, we all bonded in the same fashion. Playing games together was our favorite past time. We could work together to beat a game, or have a competition to see who was better. However, once the winner was decided there was no feeling of inadequacy or the fact that you failed. You just knew that your friend was better than you and that you could work your way up to beat them and vice versa. I build a sense of companionship and trust through games. If I can sit down with you and have a good time playing something with you, I have no problem being your best friend.
When I was 14, and we moved up to Washingtonville, I was crushed. I had finally built my own defenses and walls to the people around me. Now, I’d have to start from scratch and make new walls to prevent myself from being smothered again by this new area, with new enemies. People would hate me not only because I was overweight, but because I was a “nerd” for playing games past middle school.
This wasn’t the case though. I was shocked to see that so many people around here were just like me! Kids played the same games, listened to the same music, and even had my views on life. Any of my friends could come over and the consensus was the same, we would play something until our eyes bled, then we’d play some more. We didn’t even need to talk. The quiet clicking of the controllers commanded our silence and our concentration towards our common goals. As more and more people became my friends, I understood what it was like to be cared about. I had made a difference in someone’s life, even if it was only entertaining them one Saturday afternoon. I gained confidence, and with that came wisdom and relief. I could finally be myself without the fear of being shot down. This is why I Chose my major in college to be game programing. If I can help even one other kid feel the same way I feel when jumping on a goomba. Using cheap combo’s in Mortal Combat, or even fighting new bosses in World Of Warcraft, I can feel happy about what I’ve done. And this is what I believe.