Do video games really affect mental health or school life in anyway? Many Bruins say video games create a lack of sleep.

Opinions are divided about video games. Some say video games are a fun thing to pass the time with while others say they cause harm to children and “rot your brain.”

Matthew Zavala, a STARS counseling intern, stated his history with video games.

“Yes, I have (played), and most of the games were first-person shooter, adventure or sci-fi themed, and sometimes they were street racing related as well,” said Mr. Zavala.

Freshmen Aron Seniw, a avid video game player with seven years of experience, shared his personal perspective about video games and the effects of them.

“My sleep schedule is pretty normal,” he said. “I go to bed at twelve and wake up around seven. I mostly play platformers and first-person shooters and it doesn’t really affect me except I get to have more fun and spend more time with my friends. I have also gained hand-eye coordination from playing.”

Freshman Wyatt Flansburg partly agreed with Seniw, though he believes it has some negative effects on him.

“My sleep schedule is horrible; I stay up way too late,” said Flansburg. “It affects my life negatively in the ways of school, but positively in my personal life. It is a lot of fun mixed with rage, too.”

As a counselor and a video game player himself, Mr. Zavala shared his opinion on video games and their impact on students in general.

“I think that with the level of gaming options available and due to the continuous stream of add-ons, updates, and expansion packs, it allows the student to remain engaged in gaming activity much longer with more passionate focus, and potentially creating an addiction to escaping reality or school work that needs to get done,” Mr. Zavala said.

Despite the fact that gaming could develop into an addiction, Mr. Zavala said he believes that, in moderation, video games could be beneficial to students.

“I believe, like anything, it’s all about moderation and limits,” he said. “In most cases I see gaming among high schoolers as a bad thing, although I do believe gaming to have many positive benefits. … When game time is unmonitored by parents or guardians and so little boundaries or limits are being placed, game play works against the students’ ability to develop healthy school work routines at home.”

Another freshmen, Nathanial Towe, addressed some of the concerns that people have about kids who game.

“Most people think video games make people violent but I think video games spark creativity,” Towe said.

Even though video games can cause issues with sleeping and other aspects of students’ lives, all in all, Mr. Zavala thinks that they are relatively healthy for students.

“I think video games allow people an interactive and fun experience that can serve as a healthy escape from daily stressors in their lives,” he said.