Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Changing Direction

This may be a non-Nablus post, contradicting the theme of the past several posts, but I hope this will be as interesting.

A few days ago, I was playing an online game I am addicted to, called Runescape.

Then, I had a thought I never thought of before. I asked myself, why am I doing this? Why am I wasting endless time on the internet, playing a useless game that will not do me any good in my life?

The thought stuck to me for a second, and then it left me.

A few hours later, after taking a break from Runescape, I started programming a bit. As strange as it may sound to non-programming folks, doing this is considered an enjoyable hobby.

Then the same thought struck me again.

Programming will help me in my future, when I start to write my CV, I could write down my knowledge in different programming languages, not all those hours and all those gold pieces I had on a virtual game.

All the memories hit me, those from years ago, when I would go to Youtube, not to look up Runescape money making guides, but to look up video tutorials. I would spend hours on the pages of forums, trying to look up a solution to a bug in my piece of software. I would type and type on MSN to a friend, not about how I just slayed a demon a hundred levels above me, but about a piece of code I was working on with him.

I could even remember how I would go, when I was in London, how I would search the Times Jobs website for jobs in IT, find the programming jobs, and gaze at the director of IT jobs, with their fifty grand annual wages, twenty grand above the average of good jobs in London.

And then, ironically, for the first time in two years, I decided to quit Runescape for good. I wanted my life back.

So, in my first step towards this new life goal, I went to my uncles' office and, instead of opening Runescape and burning more hours for nothing, I went to the Adobe website and downloaded the new Flash Professional CS3.

Then, the day afterwards, I went to my uncles' house and downloaded a few video tutorials of the internet for Actionscript, which with the videos help, I have made my own FLV player, and I have learnt API.

I now feel I am a much more balanced person because I am building towards my future instead of wasting my time.

And best of all, I am happy :)

7 comments:

  1. Habeebi... that is fantastic ... I swear you remind me of myself
    When I was your age, I was already writing applications and selling them to companies. I remember those times more than the endless hours I spent playing. I created something.

    You're on the right track. Jad bravo 3alaik ... 3an jad innak shater. Keep doing it, in no time you will be a master in your domain and you will be happier about it.

    By the way, if you have any question or a problem with any of your code, please feel free to forward it to me, and I will try to help you as much as I can

    Again, bravo 3alaik. I wish all kids were like you

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  2. You are so cool. Good move.

    One thing I do like about Runescape is that The older two play it with their friends in Korea, Holland and NZ, and their cousins in the US. It is a fun way to stay in touch and interact when we are far from home.

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  3. You are surprising me every day Khaled... its a great thing to think about future at this age and about the best for your c.v , am so proud of you ( though i almost know nothing about programming),3njad allah ywaf2ak wu ye7meek..but you have to play from time to time ;)

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  4. Qwaider: Tell me more about your programs, if you can. Send me an email to
    sxi1993[at]gmail[dot]com
    when your free.

    Kinzi: Thank you. One thing I hate about runescape is how pointless it is. Staying in touch with people is easier by something like MSN messenger... etc.

    Wesam: Thank you.

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  5. Inshallah you will have a great future. I feel sad when i say how teenagers and kids usually waster their time. I know some engineers who don't know how to use word and excel or even PCs in sometimes.

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  6. Well done Khaled! Very good thoughts. Being a balanced person involves going furhter than just computers and PC. Listening to the news, enhancing your general knowledge, being able to talk to people of all walks of life and having varied interests are all parts of it. Take care.

    Love - Dad.

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  7. Khaled,
    Mashallah 3aleik ya man... You're way more balanced than many of us...

    I still can't help myself when I see a good PC game...

    I'm trying to learn programming these days.. maybe you can help me out when I start my project :)

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