“Growing up, I got a lot of hate and dismissal for my obsession with gaming and watching Overwatch League,” says @zooomey. “I was told that I was wasting time and money by family and friends.” But, despite it all, this JBL Quantum Grant winner has pursued her dreams — and here’s how.

What is your dream in gaming and/or esports? 

I want to continue being an active member of my gaming communities and possibly work as a software engineer for a gaming or esports company!

How will this award from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals? 

This award will allow me to purchase a more stable computer setup so I can stream and game reliably and continue to build my online presence!

What does being a 1,000 Dreams Fund – JBL Quantum Grant recipient mean to you? 

Being recognized and awarded for sticking through all the discouragement and challenges — and not changing — feels so rewarding and inspiring.

Women are underrepresented in gaming and esports. What can we do to change this? 

Support from an early age is crucial. The young girls I work with love video games and seem to get really competitive with them. I have no doubt they will outperform others and overall representation will change.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way? 

I’ve always had to put gaming on the back burner since a career in it was never viewed as sustainable by my family. I could never really devote myself to creating content or improving. Trying to balance school, wellness, and gaming can be quite difficult.

What advice do you have for women who want to work in the gaming or esports industry? 

Never get discouraged and always aim to be better than everyone else.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals? 

By drinking an ungodly amount of energy drinks and forcing myself to work toward those goals!