UserClone
2011-04-29, 12:57 PM
The following is my college application essay, meant to describe a particularly profound experience I have had. Please feel free to comment regarding either your thoughts on the essay or your feelings on the subject.
"Everything I needed to know about life, I learned from D&D", read the t-shirt of the man across the table from me. I chuckled at the seeming silliness of learning life from a game. Little did I know that nearly a decade later, I would come to realize the kernel of truth in this ironic sentiment. Calling Dungeons and Dragons just a game doesn't even make sense to me anymore. It has been a singularly enriching experience for me.
It all started when I was nineteen. I had dropped out of high school in junior year, and had yet to get a GED, though I was scheduled to in a couple of months. I was working in a video game store at the local mall, and got to discussing a customer's favorite type of game. It seems he enjoyed the same ones that I did, which were the games where you played as a character who grew demonstrably from his experiences. When he asked if I would like to join in his weekly Dungeons and Dragons session, I didn't know what to expect, but I agreed.
Before I knew it, the hours spent playing that first session became weeks, months, and eventually years. Getting excited about and reading the source material of these games has seen my vocabulary grow to include words I'd never have dreamed of using otherwise, such as “scintillating,” “umbral,” and “disquietude.” My mental math has become sharper from each instance of quick arithmetic deciding whether the sword or arrow strikes true. My ability to recall information has been put to the test during innumerable rules disputes.
More than that, however, I discovered that this shared fantasy often allows its participants to express who they truly are. When a vile werewolf kidnaps the princess, of course the heroes wish to rescue her. But what if they discover that the princess too is a werewolf, and the supposed monster is actually her secret consort? Should he then be brought to justice for the kidnapping, or will the player characters aid in the coverup of her escape? I have found that in a sense, the heart of D&D is in the opportunity to address ethical questions like these and in so doing, discover my own answers. Not all young people are given this unique opportunity to formulate their own principles before being thrust into a similar real life situation.
Conversely, by immersing myself in a persona who holds values I do not, I can give myself permission to interact with the world in a different way. I can allow myself to change my mind, because at the end of the day, I am not my character. Approaching a problem from a wildly different view can sometimes lead to surprising results. This freedom to put myself in the position of others has brought me new insight. That sort of social experimentation can go a long way when it comes to developing empathy and interpersonal relationships.
My attitude and perspective have changed a lot since that first gaming session, and Dungeons and Dragons has taken a significant part in that transformation. Concepts like teamwork, interdependence, courage, and loyalty have been put to the test through betrayal, overwhelming odds, and powerful, sinister villains. Many of these more important lessons have then been carried away from the gaming table and applied to real life situations. It is my belief that through such trials of endurance, cleverness, and moral character that we come to know ourselves. Our personal values shine in the roles that we play, both in a fantasy world like Dungeons and Dragons and in our own. Everything I needed to know about life, I learned from D&D.
"Everything I needed to know about life, I learned from D&D", read the t-shirt of the man across the table from me. I chuckled at the seeming silliness of learning life from a game. Little did I know that nearly a decade later, I would come to realize the kernel of truth in this ironic sentiment. Calling Dungeons and Dragons just a game doesn't even make sense to me anymore. It has been a singularly enriching experience for me.
It all started when I was nineteen. I had dropped out of high school in junior year, and had yet to get a GED, though I was scheduled to in a couple of months. I was working in a video game store at the local mall, and got to discussing a customer's favorite type of game. It seems he enjoyed the same ones that I did, which were the games where you played as a character who grew demonstrably from his experiences. When he asked if I would like to join in his weekly Dungeons and Dragons session, I didn't know what to expect, but I agreed.
Before I knew it, the hours spent playing that first session became weeks, months, and eventually years. Getting excited about and reading the source material of these games has seen my vocabulary grow to include words I'd never have dreamed of using otherwise, such as “scintillating,” “umbral,” and “disquietude.” My mental math has become sharper from each instance of quick arithmetic deciding whether the sword or arrow strikes true. My ability to recall information has been put to the test during innumerable rules disputes.
More than that, however, I discovered that this shared fantasy often allows its participants to express who they truly are. When a vile werewolf kidnaps the princess, of course the heroes wish to rescue her. But what if they discover that the princess too is a werewolf, and the supposed monster is actually her secret consort? Should he then be brought to justice for the kidnapping, or will the player characters aid in the coverup of her escape? I have found that in a sense, the heart of D&D is in the opportunity to address ethical questions like these and in so doing, discover my own answers. Not all young people are given this unique opportunity to formulate their own principles before being thrust into a similar real life situation.
Conversely, by immersing myself in a persona who holds values I do not, I can give myself permission to interact with the world in a different way. I can allow myself to change my mind, because at the end of the day, I am not my character. Approaching a problem from a wildly different view can sometimes lead to surprising results. This freedom to put myself in the position of others has brought me new insight. That sort of social experimentation can go a long way when it comes to developing empathy and interpersonal relationships.
My attitude and perspective have changed a lot since that first gaming session, and Dungeons and Dragons has taken a significant part in that transformation. Concepts like teamwork, interdependence, courage, and loyalty have been put to the test through betrayal, overwhelming odds, and powerful, sinister villains. Many of these more important lessons have then been carried away from the gaming table and applied to real life situations. It is my belief that through such trials of endurance, cleverness, and moral character that we come to know ourselves. Our personal values shine in the roles that we play, both in a fantasy world like Dungeons and Dragons and in our own. Everything I needed to know about life, I learned from D&D.