Meet Junior, a brilliant high school student from Sweden. Not interested in traditional sports activities, Junior took a special interest in the esports program offered by his school. His studies focus on electronics, and he is also an active participant in his school’s esports program, powered by Gameplan. His story begins with an early interest in gaming, which led to his involvement in scholastic esports, raising awareness about human rights issues, and ultimately gaining the confidence to give a speech on human rights in front of a large audience.

Early Interest in Gaming and Developing Skills

Junior first started showing interest in gaming when his older brother introduced him to a gaming console. Gaming with his brother and learning to use consoles and computers became an everyday activity that he still enjoys today. He particularly enjoys creative games where he can create something on his own, mentioning that Minecraft has always been one of his favorite video games.

“From an early age, gaming has become a way of showing my personality. When I connect with others I often use gaming as a way of showing my personality and who I am. I think the games you play can shape you as a person”

Through gaming, Junior has developed a range of skills. With the opportunity to speak with many people from all over the world, Junior states that he learned how to speak English from games, a common skill among gamers from all over the world. His early interest in video games and computers sparked an interest in electronics, computers, and communication and he hopes to have a career in related fields.

"At a really young age, I've always thought I should become a person who codes and programs. I think I got that interest from gaming early on, and it’s stuck with me.” 

Becoming a Part of High School Esports

A few years ago, Karlfeldtgymnasiet, the high school Junior attends to, implemented an esports program in collaboration with Gameplan. The program was initially met with great enthusiasm from students, and one such student was Junior. Karlfeldtgymnasiet implemented esports into their curriculum, which meant that any student participating would get credits for it. Combining both student interests and academics, the program was a huge success. 

“When I found out about the esports program I was really excited. At first I thought “Wow, I get points for playing video games in school!” so I signed up immediately. But after a while, I have realized that this program was much more than just playing games. Gameplan has variety of content and tools we get to learn from. I have discovered that I am interested in doing more so I asked Rasmus for more responsibility and courses, and he has given me access to many new courses on Gameplan.  I learned about staying healthy while gaming, mental preparation, and even advertising techniques. For instance, instead of directly advertising a water bottle, I learned to create a visual that lets the viewer imagine it themselves, giving them a sense of control. I've learned so much more than I ever expected."

Gameplan CEO, Rasmus Sandström, who gives lectures weekly at the school, notes: “Over the past year, I've had the privilege of running our esports program, allowing me to connect more deeply with students and educators. Observing their reactions to Gameplan and our curriculum has been invaluable, as it has taught us how to better support them. This experience has been incredibly rewarding, especially since it's been a while since I last worked in a classroom. Seeing how much our product has evolved since its inception fills me with pride."

"However, the most rewarding aspect has been working with these incredible students, who possess so much untapped potential. Witnessing them make significant strides towards their goals has been truly inspiring. Take Junior, for instance, he has shown remarkable responsibility, not only in his own work but also in helping his classmates. Junior's growth and ambition exemplify the very reason we do what we do. I am immensely proud of our product and the amazing students we serve.”

Expanding Horizons: Human Rights Project

Feeling more confident in his studies, Junior was ready to take on even more challenges. Along with a handful of students focusing on electronics, Junior participated in a project on human rights, receiving additional training from the Raoul Wallenberg Academy - where they were further trained on human rights. This led to him showing their project about human rights in front of 300 people using the “cube-method” which was aired on national television. 

"We spent an entire day learning about the broad concept of human rights, and it really opened my eyes. I got this clear picture in my head of how I could teach others and spread this knowledge. I was eager to stand up and represent what we had worked on for a year. We had created a portrait of a person, with a lamp inside it, which lit up when we pressed a button. This symbolized how we, as electricians, could make human rights shine and be seen. We combined all our elements to create something even better, showing our unique perspective on human rights."

*Each year, thirty 2x2x2 meter black cubes are placed in Swedish schools, each representing one of the 30 UN human rights. After lessons and discussions, students co-create content for the cubes to present these rights publicly, encouraging creative thinking and deeper engagement with human rights.

The Impact of Gameplan

Junior’s early interest in gaming, combined with the opportunity to focus on it in school, helped him grow both academically and personally. The school’s integration of scholastic esports with Gameplan’s robust tools and curriculum empowered Junior to explore other interests, such as human rights. This even led him to give a speech on the topic. Junior's story demonstrates the potential of esports as an innovative method of instruction.

“Gameplan is one of the best education platforms I have seen. It has shown me a path to follow and supported me along the way. Rasmus himself has shown me interest as a student and I can see how he is helping me personally to grow.  I learned from Rasmus about how he started the company from the ground up, driven by his passion, which inspired me. I think there are just good intentions behind Gameplan, which shows partnership and friendship from its creators.”

We thank Junior for sharing his story with us and hope it inspires other students and schools to embrace esports as a new method of instruction. We wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors!