I have found it somewhat difficult to get to know the other students at Digipen. There are a handful of students that I have had interesting conversations with, but for the most part, I find that I am a bit of an outcast. I suspect the idea that I am the lone female factors into this difficulty. Living further from the school might also hinder my chances of getting to know the other students in a more social atmosphere. What I do find helpful is working within a team. Our game development course assigns freshmen students to random groups to work on one specific project for that year-a game design that the group as a whole must agree upon. This is great for any gender because it forces the students to work as a team, to leave their social problems outside of the group and to be introduced to the fine arts of debate and compromise. After their first year, students are then allowed to choose their own project team members.
Digipen is a wonderful, yet extremely specialized, institution. It requires a lot of thought prior to accepting an enrollment. I find it a shame that some students waste their money and time (as well as instructors' time) coming to this school, thinking they will be playing video games all day. Truly, I don't have time to play as many games as I used to. The course load can take a lot out of a person. By the time I finish a day of staring at code on a monitor screen, I find the best way to relax is on my couch, giving my eyes a rest!
This editorial is just scratching the surface of what I have come to observe about Digipen. There are many more topics I could cover, such as semester projects, teamwork and school cliques. It's been an interesting and exciting road to climb so far. I know that if I keep going I will be encouraging other female developers to come forth and dive head first into this male-dominated industry and contribute their talent and knowledge. I know this industry can use it!
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