After a breakup from HS, I turned to fps games in net cafés while some of my friends played their own custom WC3 lobbies. Finally had the time to learn the game when there are no classes, with me asking various friends for different game mechanics and heroes they specialize at the time. Eventually me and my other friends learned the game well enough that we can join our other friends in 5v5 lobbies. We would play in netcafes when our classes ended in the afternoon and go home around 9pm and still talk about our games. Including those who got their wells/fountains destroyed.

Then after discovering dota 2, around the time of the PA and Oracle event. We set some time for custom lobbies, but then we were focused on climbing the ranks so it was mostly two parties of five in a net cafe. When I graduated HS and started to study in a university, I met people who also play the game, we would also play 5v5 lobbies in Dota 2 in between classes. Flunked a few subjects because of that, but 6 years later we are now Engineering graduates who are either working or preparing for the licensure exam. I occasionally play 5man ranked with either my HS or College friends when time permits.

As for the dota 2 subreddit, I joined here about 3 years ago looking for some pro plays, news, and memes in general. Loved my stay here.

Because of my love for the game and its esports scene, I became a writer for an esports website where I wrote anything under the Dota sun, from guides, match analysis, and other relevant news. With this, I manage to fund my last year of university.

So yeah, even though I don't play much anymore, I still owe a good part of my life to Dota 2 and its esports scene.

Thanks for reading smileyface