Enclosed: An Insignificant Cultural Rant

When you put 1000 students, mostly males, in a university that advertises to the appeals of nerdom, you get a pretty specific focus of culture. Before I continue, I must make it clear that I am not referring to geeks. Geeks are an umbrella term that can fit anyone with an intelligent passion for something. You can be a book geek, a movie geek, even a bodybuilding geek. If you have a pursuit of knowledge in pretty much anything, you're probably a geek. Nerds, on the other hand, are a particular subset of geek. They tend to be more focused on the technological side of things (which is a good thing), but have an overwhelming lack of social aptitude.  I should also clarify that if you are reading this, you are likely not the subject of this rant. Unless my blog suddenly blossoms in popularity outside my Facebook friends and Twitter followers.

Although the University of Advancing Technology advertises with the heavy use of the term "geek", the social misconception of the term has ushered in a cornucopia of nerds into the school. Few have any real passion for their education. They are merely the outcasts of society and chose a school that is filled with similar outcasts. This is great for the students, as they can finally fit in with a large number of peers. Unfortunately, their education goes to the back burner. 

The main draw for the school is the video game related degrees. The majority of students that come in are video game nerds, and think making video games would be "cool." Playing video games are fun, why wouldn't making them be? In my time as a game artist, I have to agree. Making games is fun. But it's not the illusionary happy fun time most students expect. Making video games requires work. You need to forfeit free time in order to better your craft and be worth a damn in the industry. The bare minimum class work isn't going to cut it, nor should it. The industry doesn't want people that need their hand held in their jobs. But these kids, as they shall forever remain in my mind, don't seem to get this. They devote an egregious amount of time with video games, oftentimes sacrificing the already small amount of work they have to do. Their emphasis on gaming tends to drop their grades to unsustainable levels. Many are forced to drop after a semester or two, and are quickly replaced by other unproductive members of society.

Amongst those who are in the last half or so of their tenure at UAT, there are very few who fit the above ineptitude. These are the ones I have befriended, the ones who strive to be better than they think they can attain. They don’t settle for the minimum, they don’t give in to the status quo. They put their all into improving their craft and themselves, losing much sleep and sanity in the process. My friends in the university are the ones who will be receiving emails praising (or bashing) their work. Many of them will speak in front of thousands at GDC and other such conferences. I can think of a few who will be presenting at the Arizona TedX very soon. They are the shining stars of a school that is otherwise decrepit and the victim of a simple choice of diction in a marketing campaign. Fortunately, they are the majority who will be granted degrees. UAT may soon gain respect in the industries it pushes graduates toward, at the hands of those who give a damn.