The past week in my life
Mar. 15th, 2026 09:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yeahjukesAfter over one week gone, I sit once again at my familiar station (my epic superawesome gamer PC). I won't be here for long (as I have to leave for work in an hour and a half, and from there I'll have to make the long drive to the mountains where I will once again be without it for a week). So of course now I have to use it to give a robust life update.
GDC
Where have I been? Why, the Game Developers Conference, of course! I feel so incredibly lucky to have returned, and as a CA, no less. My perspective on the conference is a little odd. A lot of people go to network for the sake of finding a job (which you can't really blame them for: the state of the industry is horrendous, and one little step could go a long way). But I always attend with the humble goal of meeting and speaking with as many people as possible. I get a lot out of just getting to know them, and besides, that's just called playing the long game. The best connections are the ones built upon genuine connection, not just convenience.
I got myself wrapped up in so many little projects. I sang in the CA choir, which performed before the Monday and Thursday morning meetings (so much fun!). I ended up writing parody lyrics with a fellow CA, which escalated into a full live performance complete with backup dancers (I will forever get "standing in the crepe line" stuck in my head whenever crepes are mentioned in the slightest). And, best of all, I got to vogue in the best CA video to ever exist (done to the sound of RuPaul's "Supermodel").
Art Fight
Crazy update number two: I'm Art Fight staff now! I found out earlier this past week that I have been accepted as a volunteer staff moderator! This is seriously huge for me and so insanely exciting. This year marks my 10-year anniversary of participating in Art Fight, and I've been wanting to get involved for nearly as long. Though of course it will be plenty of work, I'm so excited to have a direct hand in something that's always meant so much to me! I've already signed an NDA and am working my way through some hefty handbooks and information docs. So excited to get started in earnest!
Graduate Assistantship
The grad school decision had been haunting me in the background all throughout GDC. My parents were constantly urging me to think about it, which... while they're not wrong, getting dozens of texts about grad school and things to consider while I was running all over the place doing my CA duty was... not the most helpful. I did get to speak to a few people about the issue and get their opinions in on it.
That said, my mom suggested I apply for a graduate assistantship at UIUC. If I were to get it, it would cover most, if not all of, my tuition. It actually seemed like a pretty good fit given my experience. And sure enough, I now have an interview lined up for this coming Wednesday! I'm both excited and nervous. If I were to get the position, it would be a great way to get involved in a way that really matters to me while of course making my in-person time there that much more manageable. Fingers crossed!!!
Burlesque Band
I should have been done with my crazy week after Friday. But I wound up getting involved with the SF Burlesque Band, too. I heard on Thursday morning that the band was suddenly without a bass drummer, and if they couldn't find a new one by the end of the day, then they would have to cancel their St. Patrick's Day events on Saturday.
I sincerely do not know what possessed me. Was it a terrible idea to volunteer to march an entire parade (and more) with a bunch of folks I don't know, after a busy week working a conference with little rest, and the day after getting a mere 3.5 hours of sleep? Yes. Yes, it was. But I did it anyway. And it was a lot of fun, despite the bloody abrasions I now have under my armpits from having my harness directly on my skin for over 4 miles and one of the worst sunburns I've had in a while.
This morning my entire body is sore and I've got a little bit of the sniffles and oh god I have to go to work soon fuck. But I can't be all that mad about it. It's nice just to be involved, and multiple people in the band heavily encouraged me to come back and do more of them. I also hitched a ride with a few older members of the band who marched in my alma mater's own band decades ago, and hearing their stories was a cool way to learn more about our shared musical identity.
That's All
That's the last week of my life in a nutshell. There's a lot going on! Rest assured that most of tomorrow is going to be a dedicated rest day committed to gaming and leisure: my first proper day of rest in around 3 weeks. Then it'll be time again to get right back on that grind.
no subject
Date: 2026-03-15 10:45 pm (UTC)I'm so happy you seemed to have had a great time AND got the volunteer position you've wanted for a long time! Fingers crossed for the graduate assistant position for you!
And enjoy your rest!
no subject
Date: 2026-03-15 11:53 pm (UTC)dang that’s a lot of stuff!!! i’d kill to go to GDC one day myself, though money and travel
that’s awesome for art fight!!!! i never even knew it was around for that long damn, but that’s amazing to hear!!!! :D
no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 03:16 am (UTC)And yeah the price point is frustrating for sure. Working there is the only reason I’ve been able to go. It was pricier this year, too. I hear there were ~10,000 fewer attendees than there were last year
no subject
Date: 2026-03-16 05:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-03-17 05:47 pm (UTC)makes sense!!! still awesome u got the opportunity though, i know there's always rlly cool games and projects there to be seen >:D
no subject
Date: 2026-03-18 04:04 am (UTC)