Hannah Boquet

Trust me on that one.

And it's not just my kids who get to have this experience now because the state of South Dakota this year sanctioned esports as a high school activity.

Yeah, that's pretty great.

So right now, kids are playing e-sports teams within the four walls of schools in South Dakota.

This is important because these kids are not just playing, they're practicing.

They're practicing and gaining skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.

Skills like leadership, teamwork, communication, strategy, and the ability to handle tough emotions.

So fast forward to these same kids starting their careers.

Businesses also get to benefit from the skills that kids have gained in high school and in college.

And in that same vein, we can talk about the inclusivity of esports.

I challenge you to think of a more inclusive sport anywhere in the world.

It doesn't matter your age, your background, or your ability.

Anyone can play, compete, grow, and win in esports.

Of course, there's other benefits that I didn't notice until I got further into this with my children.

I understand that as a parent, video games and esports are kind of a complicated subject, because we fear the communication that happens within these spaces, especially because sometimes our kids are talking to strangers.

I think that that's a valid fear.

And I understand now, when I join my kids in this space,

I got to learn with them and help teach them how to navigate this space.

I also learned that it's not just scary, there's joy in these spaces because this is a shared space and we can have shared experiences here.

When I was there with them, I got a firsthand glimpse into their world and I learned how to better protect them and help them through this space.