By offering an outlet for both discussion with other students and an outlet to destress in their downtime, Clash Royale has had a positive role in shaping Souderton’s student body.
For business teacher Mike Feliciani, knowing when to put down the game is the most important thing when it comes to both Clash Royale and school.
“If you can recognize [when you have been playing too long] and put it down at times when it’s obviously not appropriate to be playing it, then I think you’ve got a healthy balance,” Feliciani said.
According to junior Reece Tooley, the best time to play Clash Royale to avoid interference with classes is either during “lunchtime, or once you have a lot of work done and you need a little mental break,” Tooley said.
Clash Royale provides students with a unique opportunity to socialize that they would not have without the game.
“It has definitely allowed me to have conversations that I’ve never thought I would have with certain people,” junior Michael Smaron said.
This same occurrence has been seen by teachers alike.
Feliciani has seen shy students open up as a result of Clash Royale.
“I’ve had kids that I’ve connected with over it because they were quiet kids, but they play Clash, and then that gives you and them something to talk about,” Feliciani said.
“Once you can connect with students, you get them to relax in class, and then you get something else out of them.”
Clash Royale has played a large role among students in bringing them together.
Smaron even believes that “Clash Royale can foster friendships among students because it allows students to play with each other,” Smaron said, “and any updates that the game comes out with just provide more interaction between each other.”
Teachers and students often have opposing views on the game, with Smaron even believing that teachers do not always see the benefits of the game.
“They view it very negatively, but I believe they should view it as a positive thing because it’s connecting their students,” Smaron said.
For Feliciani, students need to have a good balance between Clash Royale and school. Sometimes students “haven’t turned in a homework or assignment in a month,” yet they are amazing at Clash Royale.
Clash Royale has also allowed students to destress when academic pressure gets too much. Tooley even feels that the game offers him a “reset” while he is trying to focus on completing his schoolwork.
Smaron feels very similarly to this; he thinks that one of the most important things about playing Clash Royale is that you can’t let the game get in the way of schoolwork.
“It’s important to find a balance between that social interaction and not letting it get in the way of academics,” Smaron said.
Feliciani views the game as the best of a bad situation and believes there are many other things that a student can do that are far worse than Clash Royale. However, Feliciani still feels that students allow the game to control their lives too frequently.