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Back in the early 2000s, when Backstreet Boys were king and gaucho pants ruled fashion, there was a not-so-little website called Neopets. Users could adopt virtual animals, establish profiles, invest in digital real estate and even open stores stocked with virtual commodity. Like many other tweens, I used to spend hours and hours lost in the Neopian world—much to my parents’ dismay. Unbeknownst to me, I was actually engaging in a form of game-based learning that would prepare me for a career in public relations. Don’t believe me? Here are three professional skills I learned from playing Neopets:
1. Photoshop Like any avid user, I soon grew tired of limited graphic options and longed to customize images for my virtual shop and user profile. Little by little, I grew familiar with Adobe Photoshop through countless online tutorials from a newly emerged platform called YouTube. Now, I use the Adobe Creative Suite every day as a graphic designer at Jones PR—though fairies and griffons are seldom involved!
2. HTML Once I learned to develop my own graphics, I had to gain an understanding of HTML in order to place those images online. Through a series of online instructions hosted by Neopets, I was soon learning to code without even realizing it! It wasn’t until years later, when I applied for my first job, that I learned the value of this skill. Over a decade later, I am still using those basic HTML components when managing the appearance and content of professional websites.
3. Writing With weekly short story competitions and biography spotlights on virtual pets, Neopets encouraged users to write engaging web content before Buzzfeed ever existed. Although my virtual unicorn never won me a Nobel Prize, I did learn critical lessons in grammar, plot and audience engagement. Whether it is through a witty Facebook post or web-based feature story, I use these same skills today to create exciting and accurate content for clients. Although it may seem somewhat absurd, Neopets taught me several great professional and technological skills. While there is certainly merit in classroom learning, I think we often underestimate the educational value hidden in our everyday experiences and hobbies. You never know how seemingly trivial interests may prepare you for the working world—so play on, aspiring professionals! With hard work and a little practice, someday your play could very well turn into pay.
