I started using Ren'py in my class last year. It started with a History Project, simple and effective. Our teacher wanted a 'Power Point', 'slideshow' or something demonstrating what we learnt for the term. I hit a block really hard. We were getting marked for creativity and everyone adn their sister was doing an idea I thought of! Then I scrolled upon the 'Princess La Una and the Great Uncounted Adventure' (Horrid title, I know) I created for my cousins who were in Grade 3 in American terms. It was a Ren'py counting adventure and it got them interested in Math and Reading (As well as some hinted Spanish and French) And it clicked for me to use Ren'py for my Project. I did, An Interactive Quiz and when I presented everyone loved it!
I got 57 out of 60 and a couple of my other subject teachers asked me to do one for them. I ended up creating a lot of 'educational' Ren'py Games. P.E, Music, Art and even Algebra. Yes. I made Algebra fun.
I found myself having fun and practicing my programming skills a lot more while making a decent grade. I enjoyed the look on the faces of my classmates every time I pulled out a new game, eager to play and learn. I never lost sight of my main goal, A Game to Create awareness on Chronic Pain and Mental Health, and little by little I ended up starting it. All my other projects, Symphony, Best Friends and Musica ended joining together to form that one single project. I'm far from completing it (Even the First Chapter of The First Episode) but every step I take I know I'm getting closer.
I always found myself going through Creative Commons and Finding New things to use, from Uncle Mugen's amazing back grounds and Konett's beautiful sprites to Artist like LadyofGatsby (If you ever read this Harvey was teacher in my Algebra Novel thing. He was douche) My friends got more interested in VNs and KNs too. The Wonderful Music done by the Kyoto Connection was a main stay in all of them. I'm getting more encouragement from them to continue working hard and eventually releasing a game on the forum. (eventually....) But my School Laptop was brutally attacked by a virus so my plans of making a compilation of those short educational games and posting them was ruined..
My Mom got me a new laptop though so (I should have backed them up on an external storage 
)I also wanted to thank you all for letting me start my dream. I suffer from a condition known as HyperMobility Syndrome, a chronic pain illness that affects all my joints making it impossible to do simple task like walking or using the bathroom sometimes. I fall a lot and sometimes can't even move because of pain. Its been affecting my social life and making me lethargic and slowly killing my emotions. It can't be cured. I have to live with it till the day I die. I remember when I used to look in the mirror and say, 'Look at you, no one will ever want to be friends with you. Your weak and cannot do anything for yourself. You can't even go out because you might end up bawling in pain or something might break and dislocate.' Worse yet, people don't understand and never really attempt too. I've heard people say that I'm 'seeking attention when I scream in pain or lazy because I don't want to go downstairs because my legs are hurting and might give away while walking or a social outcast because I don't want to go to a social gathering because I'm afraid I'll burden someone if i say it hurts. I'm inconsiderate if I walk slowly with a limp so i don't risk hurting myself more.' I remember when I didn't believe in friends and family anymore. I honestly thought I was alone and was meant to suffer alone. It felt like knives stabbing me a hundred times.
I am pleased to report that I'm on a better track. I'm smiling more often and finding things that make me happy. Doing this and sharing my creativity makes me happy. I recall the first day I told a teacher I wanted to go into Video Game and Visual Novel Development, she said 'Why? How? Why can't you be a doctor or a psychologist with that brain of yours? Why waste your time on something like that?' I still get looks anytime I say that. And frankly, I no longer care. I always boot up a good VN when I'm sad and laugh my tears away. This post is getting waaay longer than I thought it'll be. Oopsie.
I just want to thank you, all of you, in the community for creating such amazing games. For helping me realize I can do this and become what I always dream of doing. And I want to thank PyTom for creating a program that will help me to build the foundation for my dreams. I was kinda shy of sharing this with all of you but a birdie told me that I should. I still have a long ways to go before I'm even a half-decent programmer and don't get me started on Art, but I'll live and learn. And no matter what happens next, I'll keep moving forward.
