Random Post 1

Random Post 1

Have you ever loved a hobby enough to dedicate more than 10,000 hours to it? For a 21-year-old, that’s equivalent to 1.2 hours every day from the moment you came out of the womb until now. For me, that hobby is playing video games. Most people think video games are only meant for children with abundant free time and nothing else to do. But video games are so much more than that.

Playing video games is like drinking alcohol but healthier! How often have you come home from work or school, dropped dead on your bed, and lamented that you will have to do it all over again tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that? Many people in these situations will drink the night away and drown out their thoughts but end up waking up the next morning with a hangover that makes them feel even worse than before.

In these situations—rather than permanently damaging my liver—I simply put on my headphones, hop on a call with my friends, jump into my favorite game, and spend the night goofing around and having fun. Instead of thinking about negative thoughts and worrying about the future, playing games help me focus on enjoying the moment. Video games helped keep me happy and motivated throughout school, and I plan to keep playing them even when I start working for this exact reason.

But video games aren’t just for escaping the bad! I’ve always done well in school, but this was never because I studied more than everyone else. Rather, I got good grades because I played video games! Playing games taught me to be adaptable, resistant to stress, and capable of recognizing patterns. This enables me to learn new concepts quickly and to take tests without being stressed or uncomfortable. I continue to play video games in college, and they even help me explain college-level topics in simple and fun ways.

Many people think video games are a waste of time. However, if people approach video games with the right mindset, they can be tools to improve their lives rather than just entertainment.

Comments

  1. ericalu340October 14, 2024 at 10:48 AM

    Hi Hai,
    Funny how you said playing video games is like drinking alcohol but healthier. I must say, that's very true. Whenever I see people playing video games, I'm always so impressed. I'm a very anxious person, so I cannot play any games that involves shooting, or surviving -- anything like that.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Annie 340October 14, 2024 at 4:02 PM

    I love how you challenge the typical perception of video games and tell how they’ve positively impacted your life. Also, the analogy between gaming and healthier stress relief is really compelling, and it's cool to see how you've connected gaming to personal growth and academic success!

    ReplyDelete
  3. anastazjalb340October 15, 2024 at 5:29 PM

    I love this take, I used to play videogames but not so much anymore. I miss playing need 4 speed with my brother or minecraft! Its a great form of stress relief, and definetly a better option than alcohol LOL

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousOctober 16, 2024 at 3:06 PM

    So cool! 10,000 hours seems crazy though does that hurt your eyes?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nga Tran 340October 16, 2024 at 3:33 PM

    This was such an interesting read! I liked how you made the connection between videos games and how it helped you do well in school. I never really thought of video games in that light before, but now after reading your post, I can see how it can help people develop some useful critical skills. 10,000 hours is a crazy amount, though. Wow :O

    ReplyDelete
  6. KristinOctober 16, 2024 at 7:39 PM

    Hi Hai! I love how you reframed video games into a positive thing by comparing it to other hobbies like drinking! I think its great that they've allowed you to spend time with friends and created environments that prepare you for school or work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. BrigitteB340October 16, 2024 at 8:29 PM

    Wow, I wish I had so much dedication! 10,000 hours is amazing. My brother plays a lot of video games and I was looking up the negative effects to convince him to stop. But surprisingly playing video games is not as bad as we think.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Momo MesserschmidtOctober 16, 2024 at 9:33 PM

    Hey Hai, thank you for sharing such a fun blog with our class! I found your unique perspective on the benefits of gaming to be very interesting. It's cool to look at gaming in a new lens rather than the traditional "gaming is a hobby" perspective. It'd be interesting to learn more about the positive hard and soft skill development from playing video games for over 10,000 hours.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Javier LoredoOctober 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM

    Hey Hai! This is a great approach to video games. Maybe I should go back to playing. I used to have a great time playing with friends, so this must be a sign to get back to gaming.

    ReplyDelete

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