#Followers we strive for positive vibes in this joint

[freakova]

I can’t believe this needs to be said as if it’s not obvious but alas.

Posting drama and personal problems so openly in fandom spaces is an incredibly concerning thing to see and fueling it is no better. When it’s a smaller community like Odd/world, it sticks out a lot. If anything is posted, chances are 99% of the fandom will see it at some point, one way or another and that does include call outs/rants/vent/fights.

As someone that tries to stay out of unnecessary fandom scraps (Trust me. I have had my fair share of drama in fandoms. They’re not worth it.) it is so tiring to see negative content related to something so loved consistently in the main tags, dashes and center of conversation because a few people are not seeing eye to eye.

If you are in a situation that includes fandom related drama then leave it private between you and the parties. Don’t throw it in the main tags for everyone to see and/or spread it further than it needs to be.

If you are overwhelmed by something (especially if it is fandom related) take a break. Seriously. No fandom is worth so much fighting and negativity to a point it impacts your mentality however that may be. Fandoms are suppose to be fun and if you’re not enjoying it then what’s the point? 

If you are uncomfortable with someone/something then blacklist /block. Don’t message them or make the situation bigger. Just get out of there and do your own thing. 

Fandoms are meant to be fun and safe, especially small fandoms and being a part of one no matter what means doing right to ensure you and others have a good, safe time. It’s not difficult; you just have to make the right choice on how you handle your experience. 

[razorblade-eyes]

GGS Spotlight: Marika Hart

Name: Marika Hart Age: 42 Location: Perth, Australia

What does it mean to you to be part of the GGS Community? I love the GGS community! Part of my role with GGS is spending time hanging out in the Facebook groups with people from all around the globe. I get to “meet” so many amazing people who share my passion for supporting women. The community is unlike any others I’ve been involved with online — there is a genuine vibe of positivity and support. People WANT to help one another and I think there is a real sense that together we can change the world!!

When I met Molly Galbraith two years ago, I couldn’t have believed that my career would be set on such a different trajectory and that I would come in contact with so many incredibly hard-working, intelligent and kind people. I truly believe that we can achieve so many great things when are work together and support one another and I’m excited for the future.

How long have you been strength training, and how did you get started? I started strength training ad hoc around five years ago. I had been teaching Pilates for more than ten years in my role as a physiotherapist, but when working in a sports medicine clinic (with a fabulous gym!), I learnt more about using strength training in rehabilitation for clients and decided to have a play around for myself.

What does your typical workout look like? Honestly, I hate doing the same exercises all the time and I love variety. In a typical week, I do four hours of Taekwondo and then two other sessions of gym-based exercise. Those extra sessions might include body weight exercises, boxing, free weights or cardio work.

Favorite lift: Deadlift (of course!) It just feels good to be able to pick up something heavy!

 Most memorable PR: I don’t tend to do powerlifting, but rather hit the higher reps on moderate lifts. For me, my most memorable achievements in Taekwondo have been achieving my 3rd Dan black belt at the age of 40 and then winning a gold medal at the ITF World Cup in Sydney this year in an event called special technique. I basically had to jump over a barrier and kick a board with a flying side kick. I didn’t expect to do well in that event and was thrilled to win!

Top 5 songs on your training playlist: My music collection is pretty eclectic, so it varies a lot depending on my mood. I like a lot of old school tracks, so here are a few of my faves.

Don’t Stop Me Now, Queen

Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai

Basketcase, Green Day

Jumpin’, Jumpin’, Destiny’s Child

Let’s Get It Started, Black Eyed Peas

Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag: Water bottle, towel, phone.

Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why? Definitely training with others. I’m not that self motivated to exercise alone — I thrive on the company of others! Because I teach exercise in my job as a physiotherapist, when I go to Taekwondo or the gym I actually really like having someone else tell me what to do and correct my technique!

Most memorable compliment you’ve received lately: I don’t take compliments too well if I’m honest. I tend to brush them aside as I get embarrassed! Most recently I had a client tell me that I was amazing and totally changed her life — they are my favourite compliments!

Most recent compliment you gave someone else: Giving compliments — now that I find easier to do, as I am surrounded by so many amazing people every day. I recently complimented my friend Mish Wright who set up the Women’s Health and Fitness Summit on all her hard work and dedication to women’s health and wellness in Australia.

Favorite meal: Anything that someone else has cooked, haha! I like lots of different foods, but I love Thai food probably the most.

Favorite way to treat yourself: A night or weekend away with my girlfriends would probably be my favourite. This typically involves some kind of exercise (hiking, indoor rock climbing, walking) followed by food and a night in a hotel.

Favorite book: Currently I am absorbing anything by Brandon Sanderson.

What inspires and motivates you? I am inspired by people, especially those who manage to achieve great things in the face of adversity. I’m motivated by my children and my clients — I strive to be a great role model for my daughter and I’m motivated to give my clients the best care that I can!

What do you do? I am a physiotherapist. I run two businesses — one is Dynamic Strength Physiotherapy, which is based in Perth, Western Australia. I teach pre- and postnatal exercise classes, as well as develop exercise programs predominantly for women. My clients may be pregnant, new mothers, have pelvic floor dysfunction, suffer from osteoporosis or joint pain… or simply want to feel fit and strong as they age but don’t know where to start. I even see a few men occasionally!

My other business is Herasphere and it is fully online. This business is dedicated to providing free information to people who are pregnant or just had a baby and consists of video interviews and blog posts. I have also created a comprehensive paid pregnancy program called “Pregnancy Club” which has education and exercise videos designed to follow women through their pregnancy. I’m thrilled to say that this program has been completed by women around the globe, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Mongolia and New Zealand.

What else do you do? I have two primary school-aged children who keep me very busy, so honestly I don’t have a lot of spare time! I’m also studying a Masters Degree in Continence and Women’s Health Physiotherapy at Curtin University.

Things that I enjoy doing whenever I can find time include: Taekwondo, walking, camping, going to the beach, reading, going to the movies, hanging out with friends, eating, drinking…

Describe a typical day in your life: Wake up, eat breakfast and make a plan for the day with my daughter (who is being homeschooled). Get my son off to school and then get on with either working with clients in the gym, taking exercise classes, studying, cleaning or teaching! My work does include quite a lot of time online — so I might have to check emails, respond to Facebook posts, liaise with clients or make videos.

In the afternoon, I walk to school to pick up my son and then we head home for afternoon snacks before the after-school activities begin. Evenings may find me at home with the kids, out at Taekwondo or teaching pregnancy classes.

So in a nutshell, my role as parent, physiotherapist and student take up most of my day!

Your next training goal: I want to grade for my 4th Dan within the next two years. I’d also like to compete in the ITF World Cup in Slovenia in 2020.

For what are you most grateful? My family are amazing and I am so grateful to have them.

My husband is incredibly supportive of everything I do. He has never tried to talk me out of any of my crazy ideas (except a PhD!) and has helped me with a lot of the technology side of my business. I couldn’t do what I do without his support.

My parents also give us so much assistance and I’m really grateful to have moved back to Perth to be closer to them. They help so much in looking after our children every single week and in educating our daughter.

Of what life accomplishment do you feel most proud? Getting Herasphere Pregnancy Club off the ground. That project was hard work but I’m so proud of the result and of the effect it is having on women around the globe. To be able to help women have access to evidence-based information about pregnancy, childbirth and recovery — no matter where they are in the world — is something that I am thrilled to have been able to do.

Which three words best describe you? I actually did a survey of my friends once and asked this very question! The common responses were fun, intelligent, dedicated. (And yes, I’m embarrassing to type this bit!)

Tell us about a time when you overcame fear or self-doubt: Recently I put my hand up to do a presentation at a large conference and I was really nervous. I had those typical thoughts that many of us have — “Who the hell do you think you are to present at this event?” I have done a lot of presentations to small groups, but never to a large room full of my peers! It took me ages to convince myself that I could do it and I am thrilled that I did.

How has lifting weights changed your life? I had a back injury about four years ago and it took me months to feel like I could move comfortably without pain. Getting into strength training has given me so much more confidence in my body, especially for Taekwondo. I feel like I can take a “hit” better and recovery more quickly from heavy training sessions. I have less fear of trying new things — I don’t worry so much about getting hurt.

What’s the coolest “side effect” you’ve experienced from strength training? Every now and again, I’ll be doing something and just think “I’m so glad I did all those [enter exercise] at the gym!”

For example, we went indoor rock climbing recently and I was grateful for the arm and leg strength! Or another day we went kayaking and I was glad to have done some abdominal exercises!

What do you want to say to other women who might be nervous or hesitant about strength training? Find a good trainer and an environment that works for you. Every gym is different — they each have their own music and vibe. Every trainer has a different skill set, as well as their own unique personality. Find something that works for you and if you don’t connect with the first gym or trainer that you tried, go somewhere else!

You can find out more about Marika on her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

The post GGS Spotlight: Marika Hart appeared first on Girls Gone Strong.

from Girls Gone Strong http://bit.ly/2QZb0w4 from Fitness and Nutrition Hacks http://bit.ly/2DouVRH

[gethealthy18-blog]

How Birth Month Influences Health And Personality Of Women

New Post has been published on http://healingawerness.com/getting-healthy/getting-healthy-women/how-birth-month-influences-health-and-personality-of-women/

How Birth Month Influences Health And Personality Of Women

Shivani K January 17, 2019

Most of us desire to take a peek at the book of fate to know more about ourselves. Some of us seek this knowledge in astrology. You know, the way the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon are positioned at the time of one’s birth and how that influences their personality. A lot has been written about how one’s birth month can influence their personality. You would be surprised to know that the birth month actually plays a role in influencing the happiness hormones — dopamine and serotonin. The levels of these hormones also have an effect on your mental and physical health. All this being said, we’ve given a detailed account of how each month influences the health and personality of the women born in those months. Let’s read together and get to know ourselves a little better, ladies.

January

Shutterstock

Women born in this month are considered to be less short-tempered. The fact that you don’t get to bask on much sunshine during this month is the reason why women born in January are more prone to depression, and always behave in a repressed manner.

Health-wise they suffer from migraines, ulcers, and also run a risk of developing heart-related ailments. However, the chances of their contracting thyroid problems are comparatively less than women born during the rest of the year.

February

Shutterstock

February is officially the month of love. So, there’s no surprise that women born during this month are extremely romantic by nature. They have their good share of mood swings too. They expect love and loyalty from their partners. It is said that women born in this month are highly susceptible to thyroid gland problems. Apart from this, they are also likely to contract osteoarthritis which causes stiffness and pains in joints. Another deadly disease that they can suffer from is thrombosis, a condition where there are blood clots in the blood vessels. This can lead to severe health complications.

March

Shutterstock

Springtime reminds us of happy memories, right? Women born in this month radiate good vibes only and are very charming, and charismatic. They are extremely loyal but one mistake from your side will make them hate you in a jiffy.

Rheumatism, as well as, arthritis are two things that bother them. They also suffer from constipation. Therefore, women born in the month of March need to eat a fiber-rich diet and seek proper treatment for their other ailments from the initial stage itself.

April

Shutterstock

April ladies can be considered as born diplomats. They have amazing communication skills, though they are more prone to jealousy.

Health-wise April women are advised to have a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D as they have chances of suffering from osteoporosis. Angina is another problem faced by them wherein women experience severe chest pains. Bronchitis is another problem faced by these women.

May

Shutterstock

Ladies born in May have a very tough character. They are insistent and will never sacrifice their values, come what may.

Constipation and osteoporosis are the problems these women face. They are also prone to a lot of chronic allergies that require treatment. Therefore, for any allergy, including food allergies, it’s important that these women consult a doctor.

June

Shutterstock

Women born in June are creative and curious creatures. They are very straightforward by nature. They love power and they know how to make use of that power.

Just like the March-born, even June women tend to suffer from rheumatism and arthritis. Urinary incontinence is also a common problem for them. They are advised to stay away from alcohol, coffee, tea, and spicy food.

July

Shutterstock

Ladies born in this month are beautiful, smart, and honest. And oh, yes, they are even mysterious. They avoid conflicts and expect others to be cordial with them too.

Chronic neck pain is a common symptom found in these women. This pain slowly starts to spread over their back, shoulders, and hands. They have more chances of contracting asthma. Therefore, yoga and exercises which involve deep breathing is a must for them.

August

Shutterstock

August ladies love their ego. They believe in self-love, and they also have a big heart that loves everybody around them.

Just like the women born in March and June, even these women suffer from rheumatism and arthritis. They need to make frequent visits to the doctor and follow the treatments given religiously. They even have chances of contracting thrombosis.

September

Shutterstock

These ladies are not so forgiving by nature and are known to retaliate. They follow discipline in their lives and don’t entertain temporary relationships.

They suffer from thyroid gland problems that take a toll on their physical and mental well-being. They even have increased chances of developing tumor-related diseases. Therefore, annual checkups are a must for them.

October

Shutterstock

They are go-getters in life. They believe themselves to be self-sufficient. They are smart and strong. They are not the kind of women who wear their hearts on their sleeves.

Anemia is a problem they are disposed to. They need to have an iron-rich diet and consider taking supplements for any deficiencies after consulting a doctor. High blood cholesterol is also a significant problem among them. Therefore, it’s ideal for them if they follow a proper diet after consulting a dietician.

November

Shutterstock

These ladies are witty by birth, trust us! They have the power to smell deceit from a mile away. They are very goal-oriented and will do everything in their abilities to fulfill them.

They suffer from various heart ailments. It’s best to go for consistent health checkups every now and then to keep a check on their heart’s condition. They are also likely to suffer from varicose veins. Essential-oil massages, avoiding lifestyles that require you to stand for long hours can help them with that.

December

Shutterstock

Ladies born in this Christmas month are highly impatient. They can seldom recognize the good around them. However, they have the ability to turn everything into their favor.

December women suffer from a lot of breathing problems like asthma and severe bronchitis. Therefore it’s essential for them to include yoga and breathing exercises in their routines. They can also suffer from thrombosis as well.

Our intention here is to not scare you by mentioning these health problems. We are just cautioning you about the problems that might come knocking at your door one fine day. Therefore, pay attention to your lifestyle as well as your characteristic traits and strive to achieve a healthy balance. If you think we missed out on anything here, let us know in the comments below.

The following two tabs change content below.

Latest posts by Shivani K (see all)

RELATED ARTICLES

Source: https://www.stylecraze.com/trending/birth-month-influences-personality/

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

5 Ways My Chronic Illnesses Have Made Me Be a Better Person

New blog post! When you're living with chronic illness, it's easy to focus on the drawbacks. Even after I went gluten free, celiac disease almost killed me - and I still battle some stomach issues. Similarly, although going gluten free greatly reduced my fibromyalgia pain, I still have my fair share of fibromyalgia flare ups and bad days.

I always try to focus on the positives, though - and this post is no exception! Today, I'm sharing five reasons why being diagnosed with two chronic illnesses (before the age of 18!) has made me a better person...and how you might be able to say the same thing.

1. I know the difference that a few kind words or the support from a stranger can make. 

Can one person really make a difference? That's a common enough question, and the answer isn't always obvious. However, my experience with celiac disease and fibromyalgia implies a big Y-E-S. When I was hospitalized due to celiac complications, Gluten Dude shared my story and hundreds of people from all over the world sent me healing thoughts and kind words. Sure, those words didn't "heal" me; however, they did keep me from feeling so alone in my hospital bed. And when I'm having a fibromyalgia flare-up or a "fluffy" (aka super bloated for no reason) day, a silly meme from my best friend or a short phone call with my mom never fails to make me feel a little bit better. 

Kind words can't solve everything, but you never know how much of a difference they can make. So the next time you see someone struggling - whether due to chronic disease or everyday challenges - why not send some positive vibes and encouragement their way? 

2. I've felt wrongly judged by my appearance - and I try to not do the same. 

One of the biggest challenges of having an invisible illness is that you look "normal," but your body doesn't always behave that way. If you have celiac disease, this may mean that people assume you're a gluten free fad dieter ditching bread out of misinformed vanity when you ask for a gluten free menu. Or, if you have fibromyalgia, you might get disapproving looks when you use a handicapped parking spot but look "just fine."

The truth? Being wrongly stereotyped based on your appearance, well, hurts - and I try to use my own painful experiences as motivation to not do the same to others. 

Of course, it would be a lie to say that I never judge anyone by their appearance. Stereotypes - harmful, or otherwise - are one way that we organize and make sense of the world around us. We see homeless people and think, "They're so lazy! Why can't they just get a job?" instead of considering the mental and invisible illnesses that they could be facing. Or, we spot gorgeous men or women and assume that their life is perfect...even though their medical history may be anything but. However, being aware of your own assumptions and stereotypical thinking is a step in the right direction.

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "This #celiac gets real about how my #chronicillness has made me a better person. #fibromyalgia #selflove http://bit.ly/2xfM1Pi"

After all, the more aware you are of your own assumptions, the more intentionally you can examine how accurate these assumptions really are. At least in my experience, the world needs less judgment and more empathy - and you can help lead the change. 

3. I've learned that, sometimes, not listening to your body isn't an option.

You've probably heard the phrase, "No pain, no gain" - and, at first glance, there's nothing wrong with that mantra. After all, I'm all about striving for improvement. However, if my fibromyalgia and celiac disease diagnoses have taught me anything, it's the importance of listening to the messages your body is sending. 

For instance, I remember that a month before my celiac diagnosis, I suddenly started craving my mom's chicken and rice bake. "It's so weird," I remember telling her. "But I feel better after eating that than most other things." Little did I know that the bake was lower in gluten than most of the other foods my family ate...and that my body was hinting at my need for a gluten free diet a few weeks before I received the life-changing phone call from my doctor.

Similarly, living with fibromyalgia means paying close attention to my daily pain levels. If my muscles are especially tense, I've learned that a yoga session is more helpful than weight lifting. And, after a few months of experimenting, I've realized that eating corn in large doses often means extra painful joints the next day. 

Sure, sometimes you need to reject your body's wishes to just lay on the couch all day and listen to your brain and do a workout or go to class instead. Other times, though, listening to your body can literally transform - or even save - your life. 

4. I've discovered the importance of advocating for myself...and I try to teach others the same skill. 

When you think about living with chronic illness, the term "limiting" might come to mind. Surprisingly enough, though, chronic diseases can also be empowering...and I have my chronic illnesses to thank for my loud and proud advocacy. 

Fibromyalgia has shown me that doctors don't always know everything - and that you might need to fight for the diagnosis and treatment you need. Meanwhile, celiac disease has helped me realize that I'm not "bothersome" or "annoying" for giving extensive explanations and instructions to restaurant staff. It is not my fault that gluten can literally kill me, and it is my right as a customer to receive safe, delicious food. If a restaurant cannot accommodate me, that's fine; tell me, and I'll go somewhere else. However, I refuse to endanger myself to be an "easier" customer or lunch date.

Yes, I still have moments of self-consciousness when I'm the only person eating who needs a "special" meal. But I also know that I'm special for many more reasons than my chronic illnesses - just like everyone else!

5.  I've accepted that I don't have to be perfectly "healthy" to be capable of success and worthy of love.

On a similar note, my chronic illnesses have also shown me that I'll probably never be "typical" - but that I'm no less awesome because of it. 

I was diagnosed with celiac disease a few weeks before my first date. Of course, I promptly glutened myself on movie theatre popcorn and felt less lovesick and more, well, gluten sick in the following days. Since then, though, I've had my share of successful dates. I've learned that needing a guy to brush his teeth before kissing isn't a mood killer and that bringing my own food to a "meet-the-parents" brunch is less of a big deal than I worried.

I've also seen that, with the right determination and planning, my chronic illnesses can't stop me from chasing my dreams. Despite the hospitalization, the food prep and the bumps along the way, I graduated college with a 4.0 GPA. Despite my unique "employee" needs, I worked my first full time job with a kick-ass feminist magazine called Entity. And, now, I'm teaching my first college course and attending grad school to receive an MFA in Creative Nonfiction. 

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "This #celiac gets real about how my #chronicillness has made me a better person. #fibromyalgia #selflove http://bit.ly/2xfM1Pi"

I've always grown up hearing the phrase, "Everything happens for a reason." And while that can be harder to believe with certain events than others, I 100% believe that it applies to my journey with chronic illness. Why? Sure, fibromyalgia and celiac disease come with plenty of challenges, and I complain of those more on some days than others. However, they have also helped shape me into the empathetic, determined, strong and confident woman I am today...and for that, I am grateful.

And I hope that when you reflect on your own life with chronic illness, you can find a few positive points that make you say the same thing. No questions today - just tell me your thoughts!

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2fBH1dA

[symbianosgames]

The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.

I'd like to open with a bit about me:

I'm Devon Wiersma, I've been a Game Master for tabletop RPGs for ~8 years now as well as a freelance author for ookpixels.ca and TorontoGameDevs.com. I've done contract work at small startup and have spent the last few months working as a Junior Level Designer on Riverbond by Cococucumber. Last February I even paid for a trip down to GDC and helped demo our game at the Media Indie Exchange and GDC Play where it won Best In Play (which was pretty neat, to say the least).

Oh, and I'm also a third year Game Design student from Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada.

Lately I've been reflecting a lot about my previous blog on how to network for Students and some of my more negative experiences with industry professionals. Eventually come to a realization that there are some game developers who struggle to communicate with students in a healthy manner.

In light of that I figured it'd be handy to put together some more Hot Tips™ on how YOU can interact with students in a positive way!

So let's go~

Hot Tip™ 1: We're Not Students

"But wait! The article called you people 'students', what gives?!"

Let me explain:

Most students (especially those out networking) just want to feel comfortable. Networking can be awkward for everyone involved but doubly so for students, most of which still aren't familiar with the practice.

Chances are unless the event you're at is specifically catered towards educating students we aren't there to be lectured at, we're there to meet friendly faces and chat about goings on. Puzzlingly, there are plenty of developers who seem to interpret the phrase "I'm a student" to mean "I'd like to know what you think my career path should be" or something to that effect, see Tip 4 for more on that...

Basically, we students are just people too. For us it can be especially tough to find people who will speak to you like a regular human being, because for some the mention of our status seems to imply we have ulterior motives like finding jobs or generally just being immature.

We're not always on a mad hunt for knowledge or connections, sometimes we're just looking to meet new folks and have a good time.

Hot Tip™ 2: We're Just Students

Ignoring my hypocrisy, socializing with developers is intimidating when you hardly know anyone at most events and have less experience to go off of than others in a conversation. That's not even considering the wide birth of experience that can exist between an amateur game dev and an experienced one.

And yet, the ostracizing vibe of 'we are the new blood after your jobs' is a familiar sensation students have pushed onto them from time to time. It's not that unusual to meet an industry professional who will adamantly proclaim their veterancy to us either, as if our presence is an attack on their status or an attempt to undermine their knowledge of the industry.

Experienced developers, don't be threatened by us students - trust me, we're not out to get you. We're too busy struggling to get a start in the industry while juggling assignments, so we don't often have any domination goals beyond that.

If anything we mostly admire your experience and strive to learn from you, which leads me to the next Hot Tip:

Hot Tip™ 3: We're Smarter Than You'd Assume

(Or, 'Don't Judge A Book')

Before I went to GDC I heard one of the worst things you can do is assume somebody's status or position in the industry and not only is this good practice in speaking to anyone, this applies to students as well.

A number of students I know come from a varied background - some were journalists, others from mathematics degrees while others still are straight out of highschool. Pegging students as all having similar motivations, aspirations or qualifications is as naive as assuming every person you've ever seen was probably an alien in disguise.

It's...not exactly conductive to healthy social relationships.

The number of times I've nodded and smiled through a conversation out of politeness as someone meticulously explained to me simple concepts I was familiar with I probably can't even count with my fingers. Obviously that's not to say they were of ill intent in doing so or that I don't appreciate the opportunity of learning something new from someone, but the act is frequently misguided under the assumption I don't know because I'm still in college.

A good way to operate around this is to simply assume a student has a vague idea of what you're talking about as you speak to them. If it's something new or unknown to them chances are they'll speak up and give you a chance to elaborate about it (like anyone else).

This bleeds heavily into my final and most important Hot Tip:

Hot Tip™ 4: Only Teach Us If We Ask For It

Have you experienced the adrenaline rush that comes with introducing yourself to an industry professional only to have them soliloquy to you about how a job in games is difficult and includes crunch time and they aren't getting paid enough and their team lead is a jerk and they don't know if they want to do it anymore? Now imagine that was the very first conversation you experienced at your very first industry event you've ever attended with the first industry developer you've spoken to. Now imagine that conversation carries on for an hour because you don't want to tell them you've heard all these warnings before and hurt their ego.

...yeah.

That happened to me and it was the crowning moment where I realized I shouldn't tell anyone I'm a student for fear of all my future conversations would revolve around horror stories and patronizing advice.

And in fact, lots of my conversations where I mention I'm a student still wind up the exact same way.

Another instance I've talked about before was when another well-meaning developer told me (after interjecting into a conversation I was having with a lead developer of a well-established indie studio) that if I wanted a job in the industry me and my friends just needed to make an indie game, ship it and make a bunch of money. I'm paraphrasing of course because the actual conversation took well over ten minutes and only taught me that my developer friend and I needed to get up to find a different table to sit at.

There are few things more exhausting for me as a student than hearing the same horror stories about development over and over again.

I'm going to be blunt here, so I apologize if this sounds a little know-it-all-y:

No one is going to look at a portfolio with/without ______

You don't say.

You're likely going to have to crunch for long hours to meet deadlines

I know (I've had to do it too)

It won't necessarily pay well.

It'll pay better than my previous minimum-wage job at fast food joint.

You won't have time to play games.

That's okay, I don't have the time to in school either.

Making games is a big lifestyle and career choice.

*puts on a sweet pair of shades*

We knew the risks when we signed up.

Again, it's not that this advice isn't useful, but oftentimes those students still in post-secondary education with the goal of getting into the game industry are well aware of plenty of these considerations.

But I digress.

The developers myself and many others look up to and have learned the most from as a student aren't the ones sharing these sort of sentiments like they're profound facts or even absolute truths. They're the ones who trust us to know this already and instead put their efforts towards helping us to thrive in an industry we're still lost in. They accept us as friends and as future associates and grab lunch with us when they hear we're in the area.

Remember: Students often just want to be treated as equals. Not as lost puppies or 'new blood' or untested developers.

Just as game developers.

I hope this perspective helps you better understand things through a student's eyes, and thank you for reading!