Winthrop is known for the engagement, diversity and possibilities for higher education and achievement, but it also has a sizable community for video game enthusiasts. We play a variety of games, whether its online, console-based, or mobile, but how do we balance it with Winthrop's workload? Well, this is my experience as a video gamer at Winthrop.

1. Video games are a form of decompression.

Seriously, part of my free time will be dedicated just to playing "Overwatch," "Warframe," or "Pokemon" games this semester. Especially as a college student, it is easy to get stressed, frustrated and just tired. God forbid when finals roll around... Games in general can cause frustration as well, but it creates a different type of stress that can be diffused more easily than from school life. Speaking of which...

2. They also stimulate your brain.

Depending on what type of games you play, a Lisa Bowen discusses a study that shows playing video games may improve cognitive aspects of your brain, including problem-solving, memory, reasoning, and spatial navigation. Bowen also states that it provides a nice advantage for people in STEM majors!

Plus, I love playing character or story-driven video games personally. Definitely makes me figure out the setting of the world, character motivations, and even how the gameplay figures into a video game's themes. It scratches that English itch I get sometimes when I watch a TV show or movie. So, it would feel good to flex your brain in a different way!

3. Can be a nice conversation piece.

People who do not play games on a consistent basis may be fascinated with the stories I tell them from playing online, or my hilarious rage moments. Then again, it doesn't have to be about console or PC games! Popular mobile games like "Candy Crush," "Clash of Clans," "Pokemon Go," and "Plague Inc." are discussed about among non-consistent gamers. I've bonded with a fair amount of people over discussing games!

4. Requires great time management.

With great studies, comes great responsibility. Time management is pretty crucial, considering that when you play, you'll be spending at east an hour and a half doing so. For me, I write for three publications, am apart of three clubs, have 16 credit hours, volunteer, and have leadership roles to fulfill. Most students understand this, and tries to make sure they have enough time allotted to get to their favorite games in order to unwind.

5. Winthrop fosters a great community for gamers!

In the DiGiorgio Student Center, there are spaces on the second floor called the Gamer's Corner. Students can check out certain video games and controllers from the front desk to play. There is a Wii, Wii U, Playstation 3 (PS3) and PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One for people to come and play. I've been around there a few times before, and people causally let you come and watch or play along with them.

The IT Department also have special instructions to help register your equipment (if it gets lost or stolen), free technology services if your system gets broken, and instructions for connecting to the Wi-Fi.

Overall, the video game experience at Winthrop is interesting! It feels good to play, let loose, and feel good (when there aren't any deadlines or tests lurking immediately around the corner)! So if you have friends who are concerned about not having time this semester, keep these things in mind!