Play2Empower | Chin up! You’re gonna make it
Some homes turned into battlegrounds during this pandemic.
For John Ford Evangelio, conflict came to a head when his brother confronted him about getting a job and starting to pull his weight around the house. Since he’s spending more time at home, he’s become a target — especially when he’s on his phone all day.
“My brother looked down on me. He said I can’t do anything to help our family. That’s what motivated me to find a way to earn an income,” he said of the pressure that led him to playing Axie Infinity — a life-changing turn for the better.
Like many young Axie scholars, John Ford juggles his school work with being an Avocado DAO scholar. At 17, he observes people close to him struggle with the economic consequences of Covid-19 and loss of income every day while minding his online classes on a broken phone.
It’s no surprise then that John Ford found his brother crying out of frustration and helplessness at being unable to pay bills and utilities, telling him to get a job instead of playing mobile games.
“I don’t want anybody to get the wrong impression, thinking my brother is cruel — he’s not. I know he’s just struggling under the weight of all the concerns and responsibilities around the house,” he said. “I feel bad about it because I’m not sure I can do anything,” describing his feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness.
Thankfully, his mother knows to shower the worn down John Ford with love and support. So after he learned how his friend earned through playing Axie Infinity, he was determined to find a scholarship. And his mother became his number one cheerleader.
“It’s so hard to cope with everything, but my mother has been very supportive. I’m so glad I found the Avocado DAO,” he said.
For the past 15 years, John Ford’s mother has been suffering from canker sores on top of being deaf and afflicted with kidney stones. So before getting to his future goals, he wants to use his earnings to take care of his mother. That means finding insurance for her and making sure they can afford to have her medical conditions checked and treated.
With his mind set on spending for practical use and necessities, John Ford promised his mother his first earnings. His mother had to remind him to set aside money to buy his dream phone, especially considering the malfunctioning unit he uses for online classes and playing Axie Infinity.
John Ford describes his mother’s support as the balm that heals all the strain in his life. And it’s not surprising how she can manage to lift his spirits up. He admitted if it weren’t for her, the Avocado DAO, and the animated shows he’s watching, keeping his mental health afloat would’ve been completely draining.
His resolve is further reinforced when, after a few weeks of being a scholar, he got promoted to the role of community leader.
“I love spreading good vibes and creating different paths for conversations within the Avocadian community,” he said heartily. “Being a community leader is both an honor and a responsibility.”
With all his gratitude for Axie Infinity and enthusiasm for the Avocado DAO, he’s excited to help organize and drum up participation for upcoming online and offline events for scholars of various interests.
“What’s great about the Avocado DAOis that there’s a place for everyone even when they’re not good with games. In fact, I’m excited to help bring out the Avocadian talent to our community and into the world,” he said with high spirits.
John Ford attributes this to Avocado DAO’s emphasis on community empowerment — finding talents and rewarding contributions in growing the guild. More than excellence in playing Axie Infinity, the guild brings together artists, designers, content creators, and musicians and provides them with the right guidance and avenues to showcase and highlight their talents.
And then, what’s next for John Ford?
“The Avocado DAO is growing as a vibrant community of kind-hearted, talented people and I want to do more to help the guild grow,” he said earnestly. “And then next, I want to be a guild leader.”
John Ford said while mustering the energy to apply to scholarships and not giving up are key qualities to get a scholarship, applicants should know to follow through. Meaning, the application doesn’t stop once the application form is sent.
“Don’t just type “Hoping and waiting,” you need to step up and interact. That’s how you find yourself belonging in a community,” he said.
From dwelling on the distress of the pandemic to taking advantage of his now brightening future and expanding opportunities, John Ford’s journey is just beginning.
“I find great relief at feeling a sense of stability right now. Just as much as we need to help ourselves, it’s important to make room for ourselves — to remember to be resilient to gain strength and recover from the struggles shaking our ground. It took my mother and the Avocado DAO for me to get there,” he said.
The Avocado DAO makes the digital revolution work for everyone. Digital asset ownership empowers scholars like John Ford to take control of their future through the GameFi model.
Thanks to the amazing architects of the web3 gaming space, the Avocado DAO can discover, encourage, and present possibilities to scholars who are heartened to empower themselves to become leaders within their own communities.
With ownership comes responsibility, with empowerment comes progression. The metaverse presents responsibilities and opportunities for John Ford’s true potential to shine through in this new world.
This is why we play. This is the power of GameFi.
#play2empower #play2enrich #play2educate
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