<p>I’m debating whether or not I should play one of the most addicting games ever produced - League of Legends. Now I will say that I spent a great deal of my freshmen and sophomore year playing this game, occasionally taking extended breaks when I would play excessively. When I speak of “the future” in my title, I am speaking about the impact it will have in the upcoming school year and the impact it will have even farther down the road. This impact comes directly from me dumping massive amounts of time, that would otherwise be spent productively, into a waste basket. For example, I could be reading or learning about something else, improving myself, but instead I spend the time doing something completely unproductive and addicting.</p>
<p>The real debate comes from whether or not this will jeopardize my grades when school starts up again. Currently, I’m the class’ valedictorian, and I attained that while playing the game excessively. I also have an SAT score of 2020 that I hope to improve. My ECs are on the weaker side because I’ve never been able to make myself do anything particularly productive, partially because my school, being small, lacks variety and opportunities to participate in major clubs or organizations like model UN. I’m afraid that by playing this game, I’ll waste some of my limited time in highschool doing something that is in no way productive and really stunts my potential.</p>
<p>The obvious thing to do seems to be to not play the game because I could possibly go one of the top schools if I focus on academics, but sadly, that isn’t true, because I don’t believe that I could make a top school with weak ECs (entering junior year and I haven’t accomplished anything near the caliber of other CC posters). I really don’t know if I should just enjoy my remaining time in high school by playing this game, or attempt to spend it productively by reading books and entertaining myself in more stimulating influential ways, like watching movies or reading articles about subject matters that interest me. </p>
<p>I understand that this post didn’t really have a clear point, and that’s because I can’t seem to think clearly right now. There’s a lot on my plate, a lot decisions to be made and a lot of things that need to be thought out, but there isn’t a lot time, and that’s what is most valuable. So fellow CCer’s what is your interpretation of my situation, and what should I do? Thanks.</p>
<p>TL;DR - Should I dedicate time to wastefully playing video games I enjoy when I could do something more productive.</p>
<p>Crazy story, but my friend LoLs all night and is valedictorian. He needs no sleep.
If you can keep up your grades is a matter of you taking every single moment to do your work, as well as being really good at working under last-minute pressure. I would just not play during the year, if you can resist it.</p>
<p>Wow, you have really thought this through…
There are so many time wasters in life, so many pointless things that everyone does, and then they realize, “wow I should really be doing more productive things.” Or they come on here and see people with 2400’s who have also saved starving children in Africa.
Living a life of optimum productivity is something that is very difficult to do, especially in today’s world of endless diversions, but it is possible.
You have to decide whether or not this is your goal! Figure out what your goals are, and if they require you to be spending your time in other ways, then you should give up this game. If you want to go to a top school, then you should find other things to do besides this, things that you can put on an application. But you can still maybe designate one day a week for this game or something, you don’t have to give it up entirely.
It’s so hard to be productive with these addictive distractions, I know… Most of the time I feel like I should be doing something more “worthwhile”, and having that feeling all of the time is kind of pointless and stressful. But if you decide you don’t want to play it anymore than I think that you can do it.
If you are going to pursue a career/degree in something unrelated to this game, then you should find passions apart from it. But hey, if this really is a passion for you then maybe you should try to pursue a path in game design/media arts or something!</p>
<p>I heard that game is REALLY addicting. i’ve played it a couple times but figured it took much of my time(one match is about 30 minutes and that bores me a lot)
Obviously, since many people get hooked easily with games like LoL, WoW, and DOTA, it would be best not to play it.
Well hey, I’m studying for the SAT, Math 2, Bio E/M, doing AP summer assignments, and still get some time to play Dragon Age and Fallout 3. I might have to stop playing when school starts though.
It’s just how you manage your time. During the summer you can schedule on what you want to study and learn everyday then reward yourself at the end of the day by playing.
I honestly stopped playing games during school after January when I became harmfully addicted to the mass effect series. Thank God I still kept my high grades.</p>
<p>I dont know if i can completely let go of video games, but I know that as long as I manage my time, maintain a great GPA, and keep myself completely sane, it’s okay to play sometimes.</p>
<p>I was addicted to WoW freshman through the first semester of Junior year (I’d say as addictive as LoL when you play in higher/competitive brackets against the game’s celebrities).</p>
<p>I also had a similar SAT score that I was disappointed in and was valedictorian after that period.</p>
<p>The second semester of junior year I started thinking about the future and eventually being a father and having to lead. I decided my college major and made Berkeley my dream school (which I’m going to!), as well as I started to read CC forums.</p>
<p>This mostly happened after I got the nerve to plan out and ask a senior girl (homecoming queen among many other things) to the big formal that our school has. Everything was done just in friendship and the story was good enough for my college app essays!</p>
<p>Anyways, after that formal I didn’t touch video games for the next 8 months and it couldn’t have been a better decision. </p>
<p>I changed my schedule to 3 AP classes (extremely small school, all they offered) and 3 other academic classes (plus a Bible period which had projects and such). I joined an extra varsity sport (baseball on top of basketball), became president of CSF, joined the student leadership council, joined a Bible study and did a bunch of other things. </p>
<p>The past year I had more all nighters than I’d had in my life before and went a month straight averaging 3 hours of sleep per school night. I replaced all my video game time with other stuff, though I only applied to schools like USC and Berkeley and got into those. My senior year full of so many changes had to play a huge role in that.</p>
<p>Oh and I dropped from Val to Sal my senior year too. First semester burnt me out until March haha.</p>