Regardless of your interests, Alicea said everyone has something to contribute to a video game. “Writing majors can write the stories, history majors can do research, those who play an instrument can record the sound and if you’re interested in math or science, you can do the programming for the video game,” she told students. “Everything your interested in can be incorporated into a video game. If you start now, by the time you apply for colleges and jobs, you’ll be incredible.”

Eighth-grader Pauline Weinreich created an idea for a virtual playground and is eager to make her idea come to life through the gaming software. “I’m excited to create my own game,” she said. “And I learned that anything is possible if you have the drive to accomplish your goals.”