When I was in fourth grade, I got my first video game, Diablo 2. For a fifth grader like me, reality was being one among thousands of other kids in Bahrain, but inside the game, I was the hero of the mortal world, fighting demons and monsters. Role-playing games like that were my escape, transporting me from a boring reality into a fantasy world where anything was possible. The PlayStation 2 was my first gaming console. I used to power it up every chance I got, and it gave me some of my happiest childhood memories. Sadly, as the industry progressed, I required more powerful systems to play the latest titles, so I had to be content with viewing gameplay videos on YouTube.

 
 
As my gaming slowed down (not that I wanted it to), I found a new escape, anime. The well-written characters, carefully thought-out worlds and vibrant animations were a delight to dive into. Although I initially kept to all the mainstream anime, I soon found myself completely engulfed in Japan’s beautiful art form. As all the anime I watched were adapted from Manga, I also started reading Manga. As I am writing my story today, I have finished more than 500 different anime shows and have read hundreds of Manga panels.  
 
When I got into Mitsogo, I was ecstatic to have a job. It meant I could finally buy a good gaming computer and play my heart out. Mitsogo, on the other hand, provided me with much more than a job. I was fortunate enough to meet some incredible folks here that I will remember for the rest of my life. We forget to realize that even the things we love are better when we have people to share them with. It is no surprise that Gaming and Anime are entertaining for me, but both of them were so much more fun when I had like-minded people joining me in the fun. Having someone to complain about after a show ends in a cliffhanger or working together to solve a puzzle in a game are just a few of the things we do together.

 
Humans are social animals; we always work better in a group. At Mitsogo, I found my pack of mutually weird humans. Together, we went out, saw new places, experienced new cuisines, partied and of course, played games and watched shows. I used to be surrounded by a bubble that I never let anyone cross. It always used to be me, my games, my shows and my books. Now, when I tell people that I used to be an introvert, they find it impossible to believe, and I owe that to the people of Mitsogo.  
 
I believe that having a passion for something defines us as a person. It shapes us and our lives. There’s a quote about gamers, “Gamers don’t die; they respawn.” My passions have shown me that it’s okay to try and fail. It gave me the courage to strive forward no matter what the odds. After all, why are we here if not to live a life filled with an irrational passion for things?