A wrong turn, a new path: GTCC student finds community in esports

“I had never had a chance to compete in a gaming environment. I learned so much so quickly. I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I thought I would,” Shelton explained.

Keturah Shelton’s enrollment at Guilford Technical Community College wasn’t part of her original plan. She had already decided college wasn’t the right path for her.

“I could never see myself going to college,” Shelton said, recalling her thoughts after high school. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to waste money.”

Today, she is thriving in GTCC’s sonography program and competing on the college’s esports team, where she plays Marvel Rivals, the team’s newest competitive game.

Like college, her gaming journey was an unexpected surprise.

Before enrolling at GTCC, Shelton worked as a life insurance agent and played video games in her free time.

“Gaming is something I’ve done forever but had nowhere to put that energy,” she said.

That changed during one of her first days on campus. While looking for the Student Success Center, she accidentally walked into GTCC’s esports arena.

“I wondered if there were any girls in there,” she said. “I walked in and met two.”

She had not planned to compete and did not know GTCC had an esports program until that moment. But once she stepped inside, something sparked.

“I had never had a chance to compete in a gaming environment. I learned so much so quickly. I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I thought I would,” Shelton explained.

She says joining the esports team opened unexpected opportunities. “The people in here are so talented. Some work on PCs, some build PCs, and some work on cars. I feel like we’ve built our own little community.”

She said many people underestimate how strong GTCC’s esports program is.

“Most people have gone to other schools for this, but the fact is a community college can do what other big colleges are just getting started.”

She also pushes back on stereotypes she’s encountered as a female gamer.

“There’s a stereotype that females aren’t gamers, but that’s been proven untrue time and time again,” Shelton said.

At 24, Shelton is one of the older members of the team, having delayed college to work full time. Her schedule is demanding, but she embraces it.

“There’s definitely a certain level of commitment to competitive gaming like any other sport,” Shelton explained. “You have to cut out windows to make it all happen or you’re not going to make the team.”

Her days are full with back-to-back classes starting at 11 a.m., homework between classes, and esports practice from 4 to 8 p.m., all while working few part-time jobs in between.

“Then I go home, take care of my cats, take care of my house, take care of me, and then game some more,” said Shelton.

It’s a lot, but she says she’s proud of the discipline it has taught her.

What started as an accidental encounter has become one of the most defining parts of her college experience.

Now, she can’t imagine her time at GTCC without it.

For more information on GTCC’s esports program, visit gtcctitans.com/sports/esports/index