Setting up Gaming Club: A Big Achievement

Setting up the first community-focused gaming club at AUT was a huge step outside Jason Alessandro’s comfort zone and an achievement he is incredibly proud of. The club - set up as part of the leadership requirements of the AUT Edge Award - has hosted four tournaments since starting in July 2024.

Jason and two friends co-founded the AUT Gaming Society (AUTGS) after Jason started volunteering in a newly opened esports room in the rec centre. He says the idea came up after the manager of the rec centre mentioned he wanted a space run by students who would be better equipped to know what’s trending in gaming and esports. Jason liked the idea of a gaming club, but to set up and run a club was way outside his comfort zone.

“Before I came to New Zealand, I had never had any real experience being a leader. I always was more of a follower, unsure if I had the skills to guide others or make critical decisions.”

However, after some deliberation, his interest in esports and the need to get leadership hours for the award gave him the motivation to try. The vision was to set up a club where people could game together and compete in esport tournaments.

Jason and his two friends knew little about the administration behind running a club or planning a tournament, so a lot of time initially went into meetings, discussing and finalising official documents for the club set-up, and then tournament planning. And it was certainly not smooth sailing to start with.

“Our first-ever tournament didn’t start as well as we hoped because we didn’t plan enough for the number of participants. We also had technical difficulties with the equipment in the new esports room, which caused delays and left some participants a bit frustrated,” says Jason.

Additionally, some participants didn’t show up, which messed up the schedule and match table, so much so, Jason had to step in and participate to keep the tournament running.

“This was a tough moment, but it taught us to plan better for future events, communicate more effectively with participants, and ensure we had backup solutions in place,” he says.

By the end of the year, they’d held four tournaments - FIFA, Mortal Kombat, Valorant, and Fortnite - and the number of club members had grown significantly.

“Many students who visited the esports room saw our posters and signed up, particularly because it was free. Seeing the club and tournaments grow was incredibly rewarding. It felt great to know we were creating a space where students could connect, have fun, and compete,” says Jason.

Looking back on his club experience, Jason realises he gained a lot personally, as well as learning how to run a club.

“Organising the tournaments gave me a sense of achievement and showed how much positive impact we could have. It also boosted my confidence in planning and leadership.”

From Indonesia to New Zealand

An international student, Jason chose to leave Indonesia and study computer and information science in New Zealand to be more independent and explore new opportunities. It was a huge change for Jason, who missed his family and culture.

He heard about the AUT Edge Award in his first year but felt it would be too much to take on along with adjusting to a new environment, academic study and living alone. He also quite simply felt too shy to join something outside his study environment.  However, in his final year, he decided he should challenge himself.

“At the start, I was still very introverted and needed friends to accompany me to workshops and events. But my friends couldn’t always be there for me, so I had to come out of my shell and attend by myself to continue with the award.”

Jason chose to volunteer at the esports room, and it was this volunteering that gave rise to the idea of a gaming club.

“Despite my initial anxiety about being in a new social environment, I soon discovered it wasn't as horrible as I had thought to volunteer. Being in a new environment became rather exciting and not something to worry about.”

By the end of the year, Jason realised he had moved from being very passive in the role of volunteer to reaching out to students and offering to help them.

“That was a big change.”

Jason continues to push himself to overcome being an introvert - the difference now is that he knows he can do it.

Now actively looking for a software developer or software engineer graduate role, Jason feels he is approaching his job search with a confidence he wouldn’t have had three years ago.

“It’s helped me build confidence in engaging with others in a proactive way. I’ve grown a lot, both personally and professionally, throughout my time at AUT and doing the AUT Edge Award.”

_{Jason Alessandro (left) with tournament winners and other co-founders}