Juan Rivera would wear a sweatshirt, wander about wearing headphones, and essentially keep to himself during his early days at the San Diego-based Monarch School.
He recalled that I was a loose cannon. Quiet or crazy. Too obnoxious.
After he joined the school’s video game squad, that changed.
“I could be myself with Esport,” he stated. It significantly altered my life.
One of the success stories of educators’ attempts to harness students’ love of video games to teach them life skills is Rivera. This is particularly crucial for the pupils at Monarch School, which educates homeless youth in collaboration with the San Diego County Office of Education.
In a presentation, students and their coach, Chris Garcia, a county office educational technology coordinator, discussed the potential of esports.Friday at the video gaming celebration, Comic-Con.
This week is the time! I’m looking forward to Comic Con and our @SanDiegoMonarch #EsportsEDUS panel. Come take a look for free! All the details are as follows:#SDCC2025pic.twitter.com/P6nblRPLpc https://t.co/XcSms4IijU@SanDiegoCOE@SD_Comic_Con@OutsideComicCon
With 300 pupils, the school is the only all-inclusive K–12 institution in the country created especially to support homeless kids and their families.
Since 2018, Monarch has used video game competitions to provide kids with life-long experiences and skills.
Juan claimed that it taught him leadership and discipline. It assisted Leo King, a teammate, in controlling his emotions and handling stress. However, it was more than just the abilities he acquired. It helped him learn how to collaborate with others.
He compared these to his second family. I rely on these people.
Jessica Gonzalez claimed that playing esports helped her cope with stress in both her personal life and when she had to deal with a significant test.
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Gonzalez is referred to by Garcia as the team’s assistant coach, and he gives her credit for motivating teammates to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Esports, according to Gonzalez, is a place where they can create memories and find a sense of escapism.
According to her, it’s a place to retreat to and a moment to relax.
Students wore team jackets featuring a butterfly insignia shaped like a video game controller on Friday, showcasing their strong sense of camaraderie.
The team members are excited about the future, which includes additional video game competitions as well as plans for college.
King stated: Over the past two years, it has undoubtedly aided in my personal development.
