As an avid gamer with stacks of Game Informer issues piling up in my living room, I have to say it’s both an honor and a bit of a trip to actually be here. Even after graduating from the UNC School of Media and Journalism this past December, it’s still surreal to have the curtain pulled back on what’s been an intimate part of my life for so many years, meeting all the individuals whose words have guided me through this industry.
My journey into gaming began at the tender age of seven when I first witnessed the greatness that is Super Smash Bros. on Nintendo 64 at a friend’s house. From there it was a steady climb, convincing parents who saw gaming as a pointless hobby to let my twin brother and I embrace what they thought was only a trend. After receiving a Game Boy Color and a copy of Pokémon Crystal from some generous uncles one Christmas, our lives were forever changed. A year later, I received my first console: a PlayStation 2, which my parents miraculously gifted my twin brother and I (more for its DVD functionality than anything). It was on the Xbox 360 with Fallout 3 that my video game addiction evolved into a passion. Today, you can find me playing any kind of open-world sandbox or RPG that includes a degree of customization. My proudest (and somehow most shameful) accomplishments include reaching 100 percent in GTA San Andreas and getting all the achievements for Assassin’s Creed II, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Fallout 3. My dad used to mock my twin brother and I for playing video games, so I looking forward to proving him wrong when I make a career out of it.
