I threw my son’s Xbox out the window. Now, he’s a national champion gamer playing for college scholarships.

I was convinced, but I still had the rule that the boys couldn’t play video games during the week. I used that as leverage with Taylor: I would allow him to practice gaming during the week as long as he was prioritizing school work and being respectful. We were able to meet in the middle.

Taylor started winning prizes for his school and himself

With Taylor playing more, I wanted to learn about gaming. As I delved into this world, I learned that gaming can change cognitive function — but in a good way. It can increase problem-solving abilities and relieve stress. Some people even use video games for pain management.

I now knew that video games weren’t just a waste of time, but friends and family weren’t convinced gaming could have real benefits. Then, Taylor started winning awards.

His first win led to $20,000 in gaming equipment for his school. It was so much that the team shared it with two other local high schools. When Taylor became a national champion in 2023, he won prize money that he could use to pay for books and other expenses at college.

I’m convinced that video games can lead to success for kids like mine

Taylor will be a senior this fall, and he’s looking at colleges that have esports programs. One historically Black college, Johnson C. Smith University, even has an esports and gaming minor. For kids like Taylor, esports are so much more than games: they’re a real path forward and a chance to use something they’re passionate about to build success.

I’m a proud mom. I even use the streaming platform Twitch to watch games that Taylor has played as if they’re real sporting events. I’m even looking at starting a gaming club at the elementary school where I work because I’ve seen first-hand how powerful video games can be.