Where Gaming Meets the Future of Work
Turning Gaming Into Real-World Opportunity
Inside the Esports Arena at the 2026 SOAR STEM & Trades Career Symposium
Earlier this week, at the 2026 SOAR STEM & Trades Career Symposium, I had the opportunity to help facilitate Virtual Dodgeball inside the Esports Arena, and this particular game involved a lot more physical movement than I am used to seeing.
No chairs needed! Students were moving and reacting or not reacting depending on how coordinated they were. It certainly got my heart rate up when I tried it. I felt like a wizard.
Virtual Dodgeball is part of a larger movement redefining how we think about esports. Esports is not just entertainment. It connects directly to careers in technology, broadcasting, marketing, event production, AI, business, game design, MUSIC, and more. It is a fast-growing industry where passion for gaming can translate into real professional pathways.
What stood out most was watching students realize that something they love can become something they build a future around.
That is the power of experiential learning and connecting with people who are working in the careers they dream about. When students step into environments where they can see themselves succeeding, possibility becomes tangible.
Grateful to John Sarmie and First Coast Esports Alliance for creating these supported a spaces in Jacksonville where innovation, teamwork, and opportunity came together in such a fun way.
The future of careers is interactive, can be fun, and fulfilling. And it is already here.
I'm igniting opportunities every day for music industry professionals. Get your prosperity plan in place now so you have more time to be creative. I'll tell you three things you are missing!
You can grab a 15 minute call with me click here
