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I believe in the truth that the lessons we learn from the obstacles we face can be fundamental to our later success. “What matters when you work on something is not the final result – it is the skills you have acquired that make you a better person”. Lin Zhou’s saying never fails to remind me of his uplifting when I work on designing video games. I’ve always appreciated him, but a significant experience last March helped me understand its more profound meaning.
Mr. Zhou, as I would greet him affectionately, has mentored students in coding classes in my local community for almost 10 years. His dedication and emphasis on developing good character have left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other kids. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for programming, but he also taught me the importance of teamwork and patience and to approach every obstacle with the same effort that I bring to a long-term project. When I learned that coding mentors had been hired by the learning organization, AlphaStar Academy, I felt that Mr. Zhou deserved similar respect.
AlphaStar Academy indicated they would only hire him if I could prove to them that he was exceptional. I took charge and encouraged my fellow students to issue petitions, reach out to other people in my community, and gather the projects that we have worked on under the guidance of Mr. Zhou. We received impressive support, collecting almost 500 signatures and words of support from my community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to AlphaStar. They did not blink. Most of the staff argued that adding another mentor wouldn’t make a significant enough change. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called my teammates for a group meeting where we planned on showcasing a video game we had designed together for the next board meeting. Much to my shock, they chose me to present this project. I was far from extraordinary at public speaking and felt my hands shaking before delivering my rebuttal. However, at that meeting, I realized that I enjoy arguing for and demonstrating something that I am genuinely passionate about.
Public speaking resembles working on a video game project. Opening up the programming software, you have to trust your knowledge and demonstrate confidence in your work. When a key error reveals itself, you can’t let it demotivate you; your performance has to be consistent, effective, and even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the staff was on my computer ready for action. As I walked up to it, I felt like a cat on hot bricks. Instead of the computer screen and the 'Play Mode' option glaring into my eyes, I faced the audience of AlphaStar staff and my fellow students. I felt my heart beat rapidly, but reassured myself: I’ve prepared for this, my presentation is powerful. As the staff asked me to demonstrate our video game, I visioned the 'Play Mode' button in the back of my mind and pressed 'Play'. We finished demonstrating, and Boom! The silence was me saving the progress of my project.
I knew from the staff’s awe and my teammates’ applause that I had played such a game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; our demonstration was denied. I was disappointed but proud of myself and my teammates. We stood up for something we believed in, and I overcame my fear of being a leader. Although I discovered that advocating for a major change requires perseverance and can be a difficult process, I learned that I also enjoyed the challenges it can offer. I now often organize many webinars to advocate for a variety of causes, including better access to coding resources and increased awareness of video game development.
Just as Mr. Zhou taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have not finished with the endgame that had initially been planned, but I certainly gained a vast amount of knowledge, and that would have made Mr. Zhou proud.
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