I am Safdar
Jenkins and I am a junior here at Harrisburg
University, majoring in esports management, production and performance.
I've always been interested in video games.
I initially wanted to do computer science.
Before that, I wanted to be a doctor, so I wanted to be very deep into the STEM field.
And it wasn't until after I graduated high school, and the admissions
counselor called me from Harrisburg University.
We had a great conversation.
He told me, Wow, you said you want to get into computer science.
I was like, Yeah, I do.
And he said, it sounds like you're really deep into video games.
I am. He was like, almost more than computer science. And I was like...
go on.
He said, We have an esports major here at Harrisburg University,
and he gave me a piece of advice that I will never forget.
He said that,
you know,
never be in something just for the check.
He it sounds like you're in computer science because it pays well,
however, esports, not only do you have many different options
that pay well, you also get to enjoy what it is that you do.
And I think that's the biggest thing
why I got into esports Management to begin with.
My name is Benjamin Bomberger.
I also am an esports major here at Harrisburg University.
My journey began when I was three years old.
I've been playing games ever since then.
I've bounced around so many times throughout high school, deciding
what I wanted to do.
I wanted to be an accountant, athletic director, another point I wanted to be
an elementary education teacher.
And that was kind of where I started
applying to colleges strictly for elementary education.
And though it was something I was interested in, it was never my true
passion.
I always knew growing up I wanted to do something involving gaming.
And one day there was an ad for Harrisburg University
and it was for esports major, production performance.
And I immediately knew like, this is this is where I'm going to fit in.
This is where I want to be.
Ever since I've joined this program, I've had so many opportunities
to work at esports that I just want to give back to the community that I've
basically grown up with.
Not only going into college, but if you were to pursue esports,
is get involved with as much as you possibly can.
Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer, volunteer.
When I was in high school, I never really put myself out there.
I always kind of kept to myself.
I did sports, but again, I was never doing
any club activities or any school events or stuff like that.
Go out there, put yourself out there, work events, work
any opportunity that you can.
And just meet as many people as possible and get to know them.
And I promise you, you will meet some great people that will help you out
in your future. Networking. Just interacting with people.
It is a huge, especially
if you're into esports management, because you're dealing more with people
rather than just the game itself, than just sitting in front of a screen.
The only thing that is stopping you from success is you.
If you are like, I don’t feel like doing this or I don't want to do that,
you're only hindering your own success.
Just talk to people.
And even if they don't remember your name, they're gonna remember your face.
Just show up, be there.
Make sure you’re putting the work in, and eventually the doors open
up without you even realizing it.
A hard
and firm work ethic. Every
esports event that we've done thus far...is no joke.
You're working.
You are managing. You are directing.
Not only does it help yourself individually, but
it also helps to promote to other jobs
and people who may be looking to hire you.
It shows that you have a passion that you volunteered so much,
you’ve given so much of your time
that this is somebody that we can actually rely and depend upon.
Building that is huge and that's something
you can take with you not just in esports, but anywhere.
All the skills that I have just gathered throughout my time here at Harrisburg
so far, especially regarding events, I mean critical thinking,
project management, overall being a leader, being adaptable
at any situation that you come across, especially that can really help you
anywhere.
And esports in general, there are so many different job
opportunities in the field that maybe
you're not directly interested in in pursuing esports long-term,
maybe eventually you want to go work for a marketing firm
somewhere else, you can go do that. Maybe you want,
you know to be a broadcaster for a news network.
You know, there are so many different jobs out there that you can do.
And so I just think that for me personally, the skills
that I've been accumulating along the way is something that I’m going to take with me long term,
as well as the people that I've met.
You meet so many people at events.
I mean, there's hundreds of people that you're going to be speaking
to, whether that’s people that you're working with, people
that run the event, people that are just spectators, people that are just attending and enjoying their time.
And so I just I think that's what I'm going to cherish for the rest my life.