There is an esports arena in Arlington, with many more around the nation increasingly focusing on gaming. This includes educational institutions.
Colleges and universities are forming their own teams, and they are now hoping to attract middle and high school students not just to bolster their ranks, but to fuel the burgeoning gaming industry.
For a long time, athletics has served as an entertaining pastime for kids that also paved the way for them to pay for their higher education. A new avenue is now emerging.
An esports division has been established by Dallas ISD, where youngsters gather to play and learn how to compete against each other in video games, thus opening up a route to university.
“Esports can lead to a collegiate scholarship. It isn’t simply about having fun and playing games. We want to leverage esports for the benefit of our students,” commented Louigina Vasquez, a teacher in the district.
As more universities are getting involved in esports with dedicated teams, Dallas ISD runs summer camps, hosts tournaments year-round, and nurtures players to forge a path towards professional gaming and higher education.
“My ambition is to be among the very best,” said a promising fifth-grader who had to be convinced to leave his computer.
Mateo Benitez Ponce, who will be in the fifth grade next year, dreams of being a professional player just like other boys dream of becoming professional athletes. He understands that a career in coding, programming, or designing for esports is possible, but he also appreciates that it can prepare him for many other possibilities.
“We also aim to instil sportsmanship in them. If someone loses in the semifinals, they will need to handle their disappointment but still demonstrate good sportsmanship,” he added.
They play and do what they love, learning a wide array of skills from exercises to keep their fingers dexterous to teamwork tactics.
The initiative enables students to do what they love, and use that passion as a stepping stone to future opportunities.