Garden State Esports is a New Jersey based non-profit gaming league that supports competitive gaming in schools from across the state. Created during the pandemic in order to keep students engaged and entertained through the challenges of remote learning, they host a yearly tournament for the best schools in the state. This year, students competed at Garden State Esports on November 23 at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey.  

With so many students from all around New Jersey coming together in one place to compete, each student was feeling different emotions. Junior Emily Quiroz started her journey in E-sports as a freshman. She didn’t expect that one event would change her perspective on not only gaming, but also the community that surrounds it. Competing at Garden State Esports had been a big dream for Quiroz. When the opportunity came for her to compete at the event this year, she was “terribly nervous since [she] actually had to compete against people face-to-face.” 

Jackson Mendoza, a senior at NVOT, said the feeling was “exciting, there were a lot of people and esports things which is always fun to see.” 

On the other hand, junior Milo Pan said, “When I first walked into the event, I felt a little overwhelmed with so many people in such a small space.” Pan said, “It was worth it, for me at least. Part of the reason was because I enjoyed the games that were showcased, but another reason was that I was able to attend it with friends.” 

“This trip was not only about playing games and watching people compete, but was also about connections,” said Quiroz. “This event had college scouts giving tours on their programs based in esports, it was nice playing a few games with Kean Representatives,” she said.

Esports is where gaming goes from being a hobby to a high-energy, competitive sport. It isn’t just about skill–it’s about community, connections, and turning a passion for gaming into something seriously exciting. Whether it’s cheering on your favorite team or competing yourself, Esports is quickly becoming a culture all its own.