At James Campbell High School (JCHS), the Esports Club brings students together for competitive video gaming. In the club, students learn real-world skills and build lasting memories both in and out of competition.
Esports is a form of competition in which players face off against each other in various video games, like first-person shooters (FPS), fighting games, among many genres. Taking place at every level from local to international, events are often organized into tournaments and leagues with structured brackets. Depending on the game and event, competitors can play in a team or on their own.
Over time, esports has become highly lucrative at the top level, with multi-million dollar prize pools, large audiences, and globally recognized players. While much of the attention goes to the professional scene, the impact can also be seen at the grassroots level, and especially in schools. JCHS is among the many schools embracing the trend, offering its own Esports Club.
While in the club, students have the opportunity to compete against students from other schools across the island. They regularly participate in events like the Manoa Monthlies, a competition hosted at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa for the popular game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In addition to Smash, students also play titles like Valorant and Marvel Rivals. To help them practice for upcoming events, the students have access to the club’s own computer lab, which is equipped with Nintendo Switch consoles and standard gaming computers.
While the Esports Club is a fun and valuable experience, students still need to be responsible for their grades and learning at school. Campbell teacher, Denin Ching, who runs the club said, “They know their responsibility to keep doing their school work while also finding the time to find their own practice and enjoying the video games as they usually do. So they have to make sure they have that rigor and responsibility to balance being able to pay attention in school and do the school work while also being able to practice and enjoy the video games like they do.”
But more than just enjoying video games, esports can provide students with valuable skills. Ching said, “Beyond gaming, they have learned teamwork, they have learned responsibility, commitment, scheduling, a lot of things like that which they need to do in the normal sports scene, but they are able to do with our video games.”
Additionally, the Esports Club at Campbell can help students learn technical skills. By participating in tournaments and competitive gameplay, students are exposed to game design and the management of large-scale events. While the club doesn’t specifically teach those topics, being around those fields can act as a foundation to build a potential career on.
In terms of future careers and taking the next step, the club can provide in multiple ways. Esports has increasingly become recognized by colleges and universities, with their own teams and scholarships for students to compete. In these programs, students can play against other schools, build skills, and connect with industry professionals. Combined with the rise of streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, esports can also be a route into streaming and content creation. As a streamer or content creator, people are able to play video games while interacting with audiences and building a brand.
While students are the ones practicing and competing, much work is also done behind the scenes. On the effort that goes into managing the club, Ching said, “I definitely stay after school a lot. I make sure the kids are all good, I have to make sure all the tournaments are run good, I have to make sure the scheduling is good, all those sorts of things. So definitely a lot of time, but it’s something I don’t really mind doing because– you know, if I had the opportunity when I was in school to have the same thing, I would hope to do so as well.”
Ching said, “Seeing my students just enjoying playing the game (has been memorable). I’d rather have the students have fun and enjoy the games competitively while still getting that experience and hopefully winning. So as long as they’re able to enjoy their time while also being able to take part in a competition I think is a good thing.”
