ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Isaac "Fez" Fesmire has been playing video games since before he was able to hold a controller.
Fesmire, a sophomore at Roberts Wesleyan University, started out playing Wii bowling (with some assistance from his parents) at a very young age, grew up on Nintendo systems and joined the Redhawks' first Esports team when a friend told him they needed players last fall.
Fesmire competes in League of Legends for the Redhawks, who recently wrapped up their season.
The North Tonawanda, N.Y., native carries a 3.82 grade-point average in Childhood and Special Education with a concentration in Math and was named the Roberts Wesleyan University Male Scholar-Athlete for the month of March.
Fesmire, who also photography and writing, took a few moments to share his thoughts on being a student-athlete at Roberts. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity
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You are one of two returning members on the Esports team this season, how much fun are you having?
"Oh, it's a blast playing with the guys. The team is really strong and we've got a really good connection, just our attitudes and everything about the game is really good fun. Even if we're losing or having a tough practice, we're almost always smiling and laughing with each other, then going to get lunch or dinner afterwards. With the community in here, it is hard not to have fun."
It seems nicknames are a big part of Esports. Where do these nicknames come from?
"Usernames are a big part of gaming just because of the nature of online having accounts and everything. When you're creating your own account, you like to have something that makes you stand out - a name that you feel represents yourself, but also something people might remember. My nickname, "Fez," comes from my last name, "Fesmire."
"I was trying to run for class council, and I needed a catchy slogan and thought, 'What if I do Fed for Prez?' Because I was running for president, I kind of shortened them both. Some of the other guys just choose names they think are fun. They have things like maybe inside jokes, one of my teammates' names is 'Shoestring,' because it was a nickname from his childhood that he just uses. There's lots of different places that the usernames can come from. It's kind of fun."
How did you do in the election? Did Fez win?
"Unfortunately, I didn't have quite enough campaigning, but the nickname stuck, so I guess I did succeed in some regards."
How did you find out about Roberts?
"At a college fair in Buffalo. I was just there doing a little exploring and my mom mentioned that she had some friends who went to Roberts. We went over, checked over the table and the admissions counselor who was there did a really good job of talking about it.
"The Education program sounded like something really cool. Being in Rochester, you're around so many different types of schools, having city schools, suburban schools, rural schools. It's a diverse area around here, so there's lots of different places to get experience. I knew I would be able to get a feel for lots of different types of schools that I might be placed in down the line. I also really liked the Christian aspect. I was looking for a place that had a strong faith base, because I knew I wanted somewhere to grow my faith. As I kept going through the process, Roberts just fit that bill."
Do you have a favorite course of professor at Roberts?
"It's hard to say because there's a lot of great professors. I really enjoy the Math professors a lot, I understand them. The Education professors all really care about the students and want us to be the best we can be."
How would you describe your experience at Roberts the first two years?
"Incredibly welcoming. I did not do a lot of stuff in high school. I was very much get my classes done, get my homework done, get to work, make a little money so I could have fun and do the things that I enjoy, but for the most part I would stay at home with my family and just kind of chill. When I got to college, it was very different. I started getting roped into things almost immediately because people were like, 'Hey, you should come to this event.' I was like, 'Sure, why not?' I would just show up to stuff, I would start doing things, and I just made so many friends so quickly. There's something about the small-campus community that doesn't just start to draw you in, but it makes you want to draw others in. It's a kind of a self-feeding cycle of, 'Hey, this is awesome, people are getting me involved and I want to get other people involved.' Everyone is just trying to work with each other."
What do you see yourself doing after graduation?
"I would love to teach a fifth- or sixth-grade class, somewhere in the upper elementary and go wherever God leads me. I do have a strong passion for film- and cinematography-type stuff, too. My crazy pipe dream is to somehow get into the film industry, but I think for right now I've felt pretty called to going towards just educating people and really giving my time and energy to the next generations, because they're going to be kind of important."
