SHOULD CLYATON HAVE AN E-SPORTS TEAM? The competitive nature of E-Sports is encouraging more and more involvement across the nation.
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hould Clayton have an esports team? In 2018 the National Federation of State High School Associations classified esports as an official sport. Since then, over 8,600 high schools nationwide have started teams. So why not Clayton High School? Video games have become increasingly popular with today’s technology, especially among high schoolers. According to Pew Research Center, 72% of teens report playing videos. Having a Clayton esports team will create a place where these students can come together and build a community apart from just sitting behind the screen. To many students gaming is considered pretty isolating, although players talk to each other through headsets, they are alone for hours at a time. Organizing a team where students can meet in person creates stronger social bonds not only within existing friendships but also allows students to meet people with similar interests. Additionally, many of these students may not already be in an extracurricular activity. Adding esports will create a wider range of school activities, allowing more students to participate and feel connected to Clayton High School. Just like any other sport Clayton 44 Opinion
E-athletes attend a gaming convention (Photo from Wikimedia Commons). currently has, esports teaches their players help students turn their interest into a way to help fund and further their education. valuable skills. Having esports as a team Apart from esports teams, students are sport turns a somewhat isolated activioften inspired to pursue education and ty into a place where students can grow careers in STEM as the two go hand in socially. Teamwork, collaboration, and hand. Currently, the national government compromise are all skills students will dehas placed an emphasis on getting Amervelop. As teammates would have to work ican students interested in STEM related together in high pressure competitions fields and implementing esports in schools it becomes critical for these students to would be an excellent way to support it. obtain those skills and think quickly and STEM learning integrates Science, Techstrategically. nology, Engineering, and Mathematics Team sports often create deep connecwhich provide the foundation of esports. tions and bonds within teammates. As Having more Clayton students going a group of teens go through success and into STEM will not only be more beneficial failure such as winning and losing competo our schools and education but also for titions handling these emotions together the students themselves. Over 100 jobs are helps the students become more resilient. STEM related and among these, 93 have Dealing with the emotions that come from wages above the national average accordcompetition can be hard, however, having ing to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. an esports team will create an environment When students take part in esports they for thesis students to do so. grow a passion for STEM, which will help High schools are not the only instilead to success further on in life. tutions who have started implementing Esports gives students the ability to esports as an extracurricular activity. grow and succeed in life while having fun According to College Gazette, there are and pursuing a passion. Clayton should 175 colleges in the U.S. that have an esport give their students these opportunities as team recognized by the National Associwell so all students can thrive. ation of Collegiate esports. However, in addition to these colleges have esports teams a lot of them give out scholarships for these teams. Having an esports team at Clayton High School would potentially
HANNAH TEAGAN REPORTER
