Epic Game Club

This story was written by the Junior-High Journalism club at the Tulsa Learning Center. Declan Buckner, Coen Conrad, Angel Duran-Santana, Sarah Neal, Gracen Persons-Wood and Alex Rankin contributed to this story.

Photograph by Renae Collins

On a Thursday afternoon, you can find dozens of students filtering into a classroom at the Tulsa Learning Center, but students in this classroom aren’t sitting down to do math or English.  

These students spend an hour playing cards, charades, chess and video games during Game Club.

Epic’s Tulsa Learning Center hosts the weekly Game Club for middle school and high school students every Thursday. 

It’s a relaxing place where students can come to talk and connect while playing video games and board games. 

Eighth-grader Rachel Kelly learned about Game Club from her older brother.  She said she attended initially to annoy him but then found her own friends there.

“You get to know the people and all the teachers, so gaming club is really fun to me,” Kelly said.

Christian Brown leads Game Club. With his easygoing personality and love for games, he makes sure everyone feels welcome.  

Whether they’re in it for the fun strategies or just playing for the laughs, he has created a space where students can unwind and connect.

“To me, it’s pretty awesome because students are always in the classroom for a long time,” Brown said.  “I figured you guys just want a break from that.  Even though you get outside break, you guys can play and be yourselves and have fun.”

The games vary each week.  Chess has been popular, along with card games, board games and video games. 

“Everybody finds their niche,” Brown said.

You’ll find Brown and several other teachers playing the games right along with the students. Students enjoy seeing their teachers in a more casual environment.

“They are just really great teachers, they are really smart,” Kelly said.  “I’m just happy I have them as a teacher.”

Brown said if students are having a bad day, they can play and work it out in the video game consoles. Students look forward to their weekly game pass.  

“It’s a comfortable space, it’s a free space where you can talk to your friends and feel comfortable,” eighth-grader Alyssa Bennett said.  “No one is getting hated on.  Everyone in there is nice.” 

Game Club was an environment created for students to have a fun break from their work.  For Brown, the rewards of Game Club go far beyond a winning hand or a high score.

¨You guys’ smiles are pretty awesome,¨ he said.