Most people view video games as a leisurely, fun activity, but for sophomore Matthew Pawlish, it represents his dream job. 

A 20-year-old from Fort Loudon, Pawlish commutes to Shippensburg University, striving to earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science. 

Being a first-generation college student, he hopes to use his degree and experience in video game design that he gained in classes like design patterns, to create games of his own. 

With a concentration in computer graphics, Pawlish aims to either collaborate with friends or join an established company, such as at his dream job at Bethesda Studios. 

“I don’t have an exact game genre in mind,” Pawlish said. “I just want to explore all of the different types of games for a while.”

Currently spending most of his time either on campus working on computer science classwork or studying for a biology elective, Pawlish maintains a heavy workload on campus. He also works a part-time job at Dollar General. Outside of school and work, he is an active member of his youth group.  

During his free time, Pawlish can be found either playing and designing video games or watching movies with his father, who he described as a movie buff similiar to himself. Pawlish described four bookshelves at home that are currently overflowing with DVDs and VCRs.

Pawlish said he decided to seek higher education during his senior year in high school. Excelling in all math courses, he knew he either wanted to be a video game coder or a math teacher. He enrolled at SU because of how close and affordable it was compared to other schools. 

“I’m very glad to have met all of my professors and people here. They’re very friendly, and helpful whenever I get stuck in a class,” Pawlish said.

Pawlish, unlike most students, can be found on campus toting a briefcase instead of the usual backpack.

“The whole suitcase thing started when my fiance dared me to use it for a week, and I just took it too far,” Pawlish said with a smirk on his face.

With a few years left at SU, Pawlish plans on sharpening his computer graphics skill set through various in and out-of-class projects. 

Pawlish also expressed interest in buying his own car, which he explained would give him more opportunities like joining on-campus clubs. He plans on joining the video game development club, but he currently shares his father’s car and is unable to participate. 

He explained that this summer he plans on designing a chess/checkers game on his own using what he learned last semester. 

Pawlish said that when dealing with something as complicated as computer graphics, it is important to start with simpler tasks, and once those have been mastered, then advance to more complicated gameplay.

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