While sitting and chatting with a friend from his Game Design class, it was only his first year of high school when senior Liam Morales became interested in joining the esports club.

“At the time, I only played Overwatch for fun and didn’t really see it in the competitive scene,” Morales said. “Sophomore year I joined esports to finally be able to participate, and I enjoyed it so much that I stayed.”

His proficiency and work in the club would literally pay off around three years later, in the form of a $10,000 scholarship to a top-ten esports school in the nation, Kansas Wesleyan University.

“I was ecstatic to have been able to receive a chance to play for them,” Morales said. “When I was growing up, like most parents say, I was told that ‘just playing video games will not take you anywhere in life.’ I got to prove them wrong, which to this day makes us all laugh.”

Since its inception roughly five years ago, RHS has been the sole high school in the RISD with an esports club. Only a small proportion of U.S. high schools offer esports programs, and participation in the club is a unique opportunity for students to excel, according to club adviser Henry Vo.

“I want every student to feel success in anything they do at school,” Vo said. “It’s something students can participate in to represent their school, their community, and themselves. It gives them an outlet to show off their talents and improve their skills – all those hours playing video games can give students opportunities.”

Upon receiving the scholarship, Morales’ teammates and advisers expressed their excitement and support for his achievement.

“I was ecstatic, and I was so proud of him,” junior support player Barrett Slaughter said. “I was so excited to hear how everything works, and was even more excited knowing that this is an opportunity that can definitely happen.”

After roughly six years of playing Overwatch, at first completely casually, the medium has become a competitive outlet that even sparked interest in a potential career path for Morales.

“I would like to be able to go pro and have that opportunity,” Morales said. “That would require a lot of hard work and dedication – it takes hard work to do what you love to do.”