It’s hard to put into words all the thoughts and emotions that come with graduation, especially one marking the end of such an intense year.
I went into the year not knowing what to expect and was blown away every step of the way. I learned more than I ever could’ve imagined and met passionate and creative people who continue to inspire me every day.
Moving forward into the real world is a scary step, but with the vast amount of knowledge and skills I’ve acquired at VFS and the extensive support network I now have in my corner, I’m confident I’ll be able to tackle the next big challenge.
By now, most of you know that my main interests in game design lie in serious games. That is, those games that reach into the real world and have the potential to effect change in players’ lives. And you also know that I crave opportunities to solve big problems in creative ways.
So, I’m excited to announce that my next big venture will be with a startup company here in Vancouver whose aim is to create games to encourage kids to be more physically active. With growing issues of childhood obesity, physical fitness has become a huge societal issue.
I’ve seen firsthand how much kids love games. Games transformed my classroom and turned even the most reluctant students into eager learners. Thus, I know that games have the potential to change people’s lives.
Like I said, it’s scary stepping out into the real world. I’m now accountable for designing real games, rather than just concepts for various assignments. But with all that I’ve learned at VFS, I’m definitely up for the challenge.
To all my teachers and mentors at VFS, there aren’t enough thank you’s in the world to express my gratitude. You’ve given me more than I could’ve asked for, and VFS is lucky to have such a strong crew molding the next generation of game designers. I won’t let you down!
P.S. If you’re interested in reading or rereading the graduation speech I presented, you can find it here. Enjoy!