Have you ever experienced a burning passion in a certain interest? What about a flame from within that nudges you towards a certain direction, albeit knowing the pursuit of which might meet with disapproval from your loved ones? Beyond that screen, witnessing your favourite gamer lift the coveted trophy, has it ever planted dreams in your head of standing on the same podium and being bestowed upon the title of World Champion? Yet, reality pulls you back from reverie and provides a timely reminder of a path littered with obstacles such as finances, a conventional career, and expectations from your loved ones.
In the pilot episode of Point of View, we tackle the topic of Passion vs Practicality with our guests Thomas Kopankewicz and Rachel Yue who share how prospective youth can pursue their passion in esports while adopting a practical approach as they navigate across this visionary path. Having started competitive StarCraft during his teenage years, Thomas has since clinched Singapore’s first silver in esports at the 2019 SEA Games and juggles between his fervent passion in gaming and a full-time role as a Content Creator at Wah!Banana. Rachel from Public Relations offers a perspective of how it was like to use transferable skills from job to job to enter the esports industry.
What is Passion?
According to the dictionary, passion is defined as a great enthusiasm for a particular interest. Often, passion acts as the fuel that drives one towards their destination of choice. For every individual, the type of fuel differs as we sought after different purposes in life and experience journeys unique to ourselves. Rachel quotes –
“Something that worked for me was imagining that where I wanted to be – an author, primarily of fiction, making good books, making good comics and supporting myself through my words – was a mountain. A distant mountain. My goal.” –Neil Gaiman
When life, problems, and distractions begin to overwhelm and drown you, passion remains a mountain that rises above everything. It is a shining beacon of hope that guides the ones who are thrusted into darkness. How then does one identify their mountain?
An advice Thomas offers is to take the leap and try a hand at the activity in question. A first-hand experience would provide clarity on whether it truly appeals to you. A content creator at Wah!Banana, Thomas first dipped his toes into vlogging during his National Service days. Aside from his passion in competitive StarCraft—which was already brewing at the time—he found himself lured into the world of content creation and so began his tread in the uncharted waters of what makes up the industry.
The daunting journey saw him actively step foot into the different fields under the huge umbrella of media as he gained many first-hand experiences which brought him closer to and strengthened his then new-found enthusiasm. Many years on, Thomas now juggles a full-time role at the renowned local media platform as well as an acclaimed gaming career. If you find yourself struggling to identify your passion, pluck up your courage, take your next steps into the world that encompasses it—baby steps if you may—and feel free to take your time exploring for as long as you like so as to ensure its worth. Join an esports community if you want to enter the esports industry. Take up roles within the community and earn newfound skills from the opportunities within.
Practicality
If esports remain your inextinguishable passion and you are determined to take on this treacherous path, make sure you have a clear goal in mind and that you are ready to put in the necessary efforts.
In the fairly conservative Southeast Asian society that is Singapore, there still exists the well-worn stereotype of children pressured by their parents into becoming doctors, lawyers, or engineers. A career in fine arts is often met with disapproving harrumphs and dreams of becoming a professional gamer are much less a rarity. But as the saying goes, “If there’s a will, there’s a way” and Thomas’ parents were eventually swayed by his determination and clear ambition.
“Back when I was studying, I would ask for my assignments before they were released and complete them 2-3 weeks in advance so that I can compete overseas in tournaments.” -Thomas Kopankewicz
The pursuit of passion should not be aimless and should hold as much importance on the balance scale as practicality. With growing concerns from his parents, Thomas knew he had to ensure that his studies were well taken care of so that he could pursue his passion. Though his parents were initially sceptical about his competitive gaming ambition, he was eventually able to put their worries at ease.
Additionally, Thomas shares that if his child ever asked for permission to pursue a career in esports, his immediate answer would be a firm disapproval. The reason being that Thomas believes rejection should not be an obstacle in the child’s pursuit of their passion and if it does, the child simply lacks the necessary character that would allow him/her to carve a name for themselves as a professional gamer.
The matter of fact is that not everyone can become a competitive player and sustain that lifestyle as a full-time career. There are alternative ways that can still get you involved in the esports industry. Rachel, for example, has had a love for gaming since she was a child. She knew of the direction she wanted to head towards and delved into what it takes to get there. Rachel knows writing has always been one of her greatest strengths and looked for ways she could incorporate her strengths in the esports industry. She has since developed a niche in Public Relations.
Having a clear vision of where you want to be is beneficial as you will be able to chart out the path you need to take to reach your preferred destination. What we learnt from Rachel who does not have direct experience or relation with the esports industry is that you can gain transferable skills which could lead you to where you want to be.
Do you have a passion? Are you currently pursuing your passion? What are some of the challenges you have faced en route to your passion? The road to your passion is not linear. It goes up and down, just like any meaningful journey. So keep working hard, keep learning, and keep your eyes on the goal—there is no limit to what you can achieve. Dream it, live it!
Find our VODs on Point of View, or tune in every last Friday of the month at 8pm on twitch.tv/scapeesports.
If you would like to learn more or have further questions, do drop us a note at esports@scape.sg
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