My Full Story
Gaming Growing Up
Gaming has always been part of my life. I've been deeply fascinated by the creation of games, stories, and how they make you feel. My early childhood was filled with the original Xbox, and thousands of hours were poured into Halo 2. Along with that, I found a passion for handheld gaming when my father gifted me Pokémon Ruby on the Game Boy Advance. This is where I first started playing games inside and out, achievement hunting and finding all the nooks and crannies of a map. As time progressed and consoles increased in technology, I delved deeper into the Halo franchise on the Xbox 360, playing thousands more hours in Halo 3, ODST, and Reach. Along with that, I kept up with handheld gaming, finding immense passion for the Pokémon franchise on the Game Boy SP and the original Nintendo DS.
Early Leadership
Along with my passion for video games, I participated in Cub Scouts in my spare time and progressed into Boy Scouts. In the same fashion as with video games, I chased down merit badges, earning over 50 during my time as a Boy Scout. I was honored at a young age to achieve the highest rank of Eagle Scout, leading other scouts in community service projects. I chose as my Eagle Scout project to renovate and landscape the emergency care entrance at Saint Luke's Hospital in Smithville, Missouri.
Figuring Out My Passions
I also had other passions. I joined Cross Country, Band, and Jazz Band as a freshman in high school. My passion for video games also grew stronger as I transitioned to PC gaming, playing hundreds more hours of RuneScape, Minecraft, and an assortment of single-player games. Of course, for the longest time I thought I wanted to be a YouTuber, since I loved watching content creators play video games.
By senior year, I was captain of the cross country team, section leader for the school drumline, and played guitar in the jazz band. I earned accolades in the three things I was most passionate about.
University & Esports
By my freshman year of community college, I had set my sights on a degree in cinema, as I wanted to be a video editor in gaming or traditional cinema.
In 2020, Missouri Western State University invested over $250K in esports. I eagerly applied to their program, earned a spot on their inaugural Overwatch team, and dedicated over 5,000 hours to becoming the best gamer I possibly could.
The result: I earned Grandmaster in Overwatch, led the team to multiple out-of-state tournaments, coached, and propelled myself into a Graduate Assistant position to immerse myself further in the gaming and esports industry.
Refining My Craft
As I finished my Bachelor's of Applied Arts in Cinematic and Performing Arts, I wanted to pivot in my career. I had multiple job opportunities through my esports program: helping manage the $250,000 esports arena, managing esports teams, and running social media and livestreaming.
Through those skills, I had the honor of having my Master's degree paid for through esports, serving as a graduate assistant running all media-related content for the program while pursuing my Master's in Sports & Fitness Management. I mentored under and shadowed many brilliant, long-term industry professionals and esports directors. I built my foundational knowledge from these experts, enhanced Missouri Western's esports program, and propelled myself into a Director role at Northwest Missouri State University.
The Journey Doesn’t Finish Here
My deep passion for video games, the arts, and sports has led me to earn an assortment of achievements. But these pale in comparison to the value I get from helping others and spending time with people who care about the craft. The combination of my work and passions positions me as a unique candidate in any field, because I want to be successful in everything I do.
With every day holding a new lesson, good or bad, I'm seeking a place to call home. Living by a growth mindset, I want to be part of a culture that truly understands what it's trying to achieve. A culture that values the craft, fosters a good community, and cares about creating a great product or service for the end user.
Please navigate to Case Study #1 and Case Study #2 for a better understanding of my accomplishments over the last 5+ years.