Ever since I was little, I always considered myself a gamer. I knew that whatever I did in life, I would want it to revolve around gaming. During my junior year of high school, I started thinking about several gaming careers and did my research on them. While doing my research, I found a gaming website called The Loot Gaming that was offering a freelance journalist position to write for their website. I quickly filled out the application and the next thing I knew I was writing for a gaming website.
Even though the whole website is nonprofit, it still allows me to practice and improve my writing skills. Our website was recently featured on a gaming website called Open Critic. As a part of the team, I am constantly improving my writing skills. Every article/review I write is being critiqued by the team and my family members to ensure that every piece of work that I produce is my best one. The team is constantly growing, and I hope to reach even bigger places and grow as a writer at the same time.
While writing for a website, I was also taking an AP lit course, which allowed me to study different writing styles that I could use for my articles. By my senior year, I knew that I wanted to become a gaming journalist to write for companies such as IGN, GameSpot, or even start my own company. To be honest, I never would have thought I would be in the position I am right now at the end of my senior year, and of course, I have to thank my family for that and supporting me every step of the way. I know that learning at Miami will benefit me every step of the way to ensure that I accomplish my goal of becoming a gaming journalist.
In my junior year, I decided to make my YouTube channel. The first thing I wrote was a "Wonder Woman (2017)" movie review. Then I wrote a review about a game called "Dungeon Defenders." I made this video the day I joined The Loot Gaming to suggest the idea that we should do video reviews for the website. Out of all the videos on the channel, this is the one I'm most proud of.
Dungeon Defenders 2 Xbox One Review YouTube
True journalism is more important than ever with the rise of false news being reported. New ways to gain information and resources are bound to change in the future with the help of true journalists. With that in mind, true journalism will be an unstoppable force.
The line of journalism that I would like to work in is gaming journalism. In my opinion, gaming journalists are underestimated. When people think of a gamer, most people think of a loser sitting in their parent's basement wasting his/her life away. That stereotype needs to be shut down immediately! To me, being a gamer is a lifestyle and appreciated art. Creating games is associated with creative arts. Gaming companies like IGN and Gamespot review games and cover gaming-related stories. I can assure you that they are not losers. This type of work inspires me to be a better gaming journalist and to improve my writing skills and techniques.
In the future, I hope to change journalism not only in gaming but also as a whole. With my leadership and writing skills, I hope to make new additions to promote journalism and to improve the art of writing. My future goal is to build an international gaming company better than IGN and Gamespot. I want to show the world that being a gamer doesn't define you as a loser, but can be the foundation of creativity and innovation.