Creativity is something that has always been a significant aspect of my life. As far back as I can remember, I have loved to spontaneously manifest interest with my imagination. I distinctly recall focusing my study of English in an effort to improve my ability to write short stories to share with friends. I have studied History to better understand different cultures and ways of life, which I could then incorporate into my world building and setting creation. Even Mathematics was unable to escape my voracious analysis as I developed formulas and systems for role-playing games. Essentially, I have been playing games all of my life, and improving my ability to design them for just as long. Goals (As a Professional) Network: This industry is chock-full of passionate developers with their own interesting stories to tell and I want to hear them! Some of the most interesting people I have met in my life have been fellow game development students, and I imagine the trend continues tenfold into the professional realm. Remain Cutting Edge: Theories and practices in Game Design are continuously evolving thanks to forward thinkers like Raph Koster, Clint Hocking, and Soren Johnson, and I intend to do my best to keep up through publications like Game Developer and Edge while also attending conferences, such as GDC and DICE. Competency then Mastery: Like everything in life, one must first understand the necessary fundamentals before moving forward. University has given me the fundamentals to hold my own in an entry-level/junior position, and, now, I must evolve further through practice while simultaneously learning from those more experienced than myself. While I may never achieve the brilliance of some of the names mentioned above, I intend to give it my all and continue the process by sharing my accumulated knowledge and experience. Goals (As a Person) Continue Life-long Learning: The world is changing at an unprecedented rate. Today, more so than ever, it is impossible to simply step back and rest on one's laurels. I intend to stay current with advancing technology and remain a competent and productive member of the world. I vow never to be obsolete. Gentleman and a Scholar: Morality and ethics are vastly important in the modern team-oriented workplace, especially since most businesses have access to sensitive consumer information. I take great pride in the position of my moral compass and, along with professional development, I intend to continue on my path of being a good person and a respectable human being. My name is Jakob Medlin (as the large header of this website indicates), and I am an academic yearning to complete my metamorphosis into a young professional. To quote the accomplished Ernest Adams, “An ounce of professionalism is worth a pound of passion.” Being a professional, no matter the industry, has always been my primary focus. Right out of High School, I studied Radiologic Technology and worked in a hospital for just shy of a year. Unfortunately, I hated it. Admitting it was difficult though, for I got along fantastically with colleagues (many of whom were much more aged and learned than myself), remained knowledgeable and capable of performing the tasks assigned to me, and did well in the coursework required alongside the internship. However, when I came home at the end of the day I felt strangely unfulfilled. My creativity was beckoning and I could deny it no longer. I kept a smile on my face, informed my colleagues and superiors of my intentions, and started to plan for life after Rad. Tech. Throwing caution to the wind, I left everything I had ever known and loved behind in Podunk, Iowa and made my way to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the University of Advancing Technology to study Game Design. In my time here I have learned copious amounts of information and theory on game design and development and am much happier to discuss the merits of the Mechanics-Dynamics-Aesthetics framework and ludo-narrative dissonance than I ever was about ionizing radiation and thermionic emission. Returning to my creative roots has reinvigorated my spirit as I come to terms with what I want to achieve in both my life and my career. Now, armed with new knowledge and old humility, I yearn to take the next step forward into achieving the status of professional I so greatly desire.