<p>University of Illinois Prompt 2: Tell us about one interest or experience of yours that allows us to get to know you better as an individual. Please limit your response to approximately 300 words.</p>
<pre><code> I hear numerous clicks and button presses faster than my mind can process. I see clusters of televisions lining the walls with people huddled around them. I felt as though I was drifting between gut- wrenching nervousness and heart-racing
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<p>excitement. I am at a Super Smash Brothers Melee Tournament.
Smash Bros. Melee is a competitive fighting game that features several Nintendo characters. The game boasts thousands of participants who capitalize on the competitive nature of the game. It amazes me to this day how many factors surround the competitive gameplay and how challenging those factors are to master. Melee is incredibly fast paced averaging about 6 button inputs per second, because of this; decisions have to be made quickly, and the choices made always have to be the right choice. My experience with the game improved my problem solving skills but that wasn’t the extent of the effect it had on me. When I first started playing melee, I didn’t know anyone at tournaments; the unfamiliar environment forced me to abandon my shy demeanor and unsociable attitude. I had to overcome the adversity that kept me in loneliness. Through melee I have become more confident and outgoing than I ever could’ve hoped to been and made stronger friendships with a hugely diverse group of people.</p>