Michael Gonzales

Joaquin Dorado Gonzales, FHC’s Homecoming King, is a master of both kindness and the video game Arcaea.

Joaquin Dorado Gonzales hands out a lot of candy. 

In 8th grade, the now-senior brought Jolly Ranchers to school, much like many students who bring gum. However, what started as a way to make his own experience more bearable transformed into an act of brightening his fellow students’ days. 

When Joaquin’s friend asked him for a piece of candy, a tradition was born. 

“[It] eventually became the big thing with me and candy: if you could beat me in a best-of-three [game of] rock, paper, scissors, you’d get a piece of candy,” Joaquin said. “But it got to the point where people would come up to me and ask [to play] rock, paper, scissors, and I was just like, ‘You know what? Go ahead, just take [the candy].'”

Joaquin was crowned FHC’s Homecoming King in Sept. He partially attributes his win to the candy, as it has enabled him to interact with a majority of his class.

Many FHC students have jokingly requested that, as a repayment for their homecoming votes, Joaquin bring them candy. He promises that, sometime in the near future, he will bring candy to share. 

While Homecoming King is an immense honor, it is not the only significant recognition Joaquin has received in Ranger Country. For the last two years, he has earned third place in the annual talent show. His positive critical reception is attributable to his talent and its uniqueness in the production.

“In sophomore year, it was definitely a surprise [to hear that I’d won third place in the talent show],” Joaquin said. “Like, ‘Wait, did I hear that correctly? There’s no way I won playing a video game.’”

Specifically, Joaquin has won by playing the game Arcaea. The rhythm-based program involves three-dimensional levels and requires quick reflexes to create electronic music. On stage, Joaquin completes complex levels, and his screen is projected for the audience to watch. 

While Joaquin began Arcaea in 2021, his history with gaming dates back to when he was merely three years old.

“It was either my mother or uncle that got me an iPad as a kid,” Joaquin said. “Being curious about everything, I saw this piece of metal that could display multiple things, and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s really cool.’ As people say, I was an iPad kid—I still am, somewhat unfortunately. But, it’s part of my life. I can’t remove it.”

Currently, Joaquin practices Arcaea for about an hour each day. He acknowledges the common criticism that video games are a waste of time as “half-right.” However, gaming has taught him a wider breadth of skills than one would expect. 

For one, Arcaea shows Joaquin the importance of being patient with himself. When gaming, it’s necessary to take a break and grab a snack or water. This principle of taking breaks when a task gets frustrating is transferred to other tasks—such as school work—that Joaquin completes.

In addition, the game promotes competition with oneself over competition with others. Joaquin considers Arcaea “performance-based,” as it allows him to be quite literally in his own lane.

“There were various levels that were released maybe a few months ago that I struggled with,” Joaquin said. “But then I went back to them and realized, ‘Dang, I can’t believe I struggled with this. And even when a new level comes out, you’ll play it the first time and [go], ‘Wow, that was terrible.’ [But then you] do it again [and say], ‘Okay, that was better.’ And then [you] do it again—‘Okay, that was even better.’ With rhythm games specifically, it’s always trying to better yourself. That’s the goal.”

Outside of the digital realm, Arcaea has led Joaquin to pursue new interests. He is currently learning to play the piano, which he began after last year’s talent show. 

Arcaea, while a music-based game, doesn’t directly correspond to the piano. The sounds originate from the game’s four main “lanes,” but their correspondence to real instruments isn’t exact. However, Joaquin has picked up some musical knowledge from the game, even if it’s not perfect.

“It’s supposed to be, ‘Oh, I learned this from piano, and it [transfers] to the game,’” Joaquin said. “For me, it’s the opposite. My skills in Arcaea [transfer] over to piano.”

In addition, Joaquin plans to stream himself playing Arcaea. He has already begun, as he currently posts videos of himself gaming to his Instagram profile. His account is in its early stages, but he’s been pleasantly surprised with the amount of views he’s received thus far. 

Joaquin encourages others to try unfamiliar hobbies as well, whether they be music-related, game-related, or otherwise. 

“You should always just, you know, dip your toes into the water,” Joaquin said. “Don’t be scared of failing at your first steps, because that’s what happened when we were growing up: we got up, we stumbled, but then we tried to get up again, and that’s really what you should try to do with anything. Start out, keep trying. Eventually, you may decide, ‘You know what? This isn’t for me.’ But, eventually, you may get that mindset of, ‘You know, I really want to get into this, so I’ll keep trying no matter what.’”

Whether through handing out candy or encouragement to his peers, Joaquin’s care for those around him shines through his actions at FHC. 

“To the people who are reading this, thank you,” Joaquin said. “I just want to say, I hope that whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re doing it well and whatever you want to try, I hope you do. Overall, just keep on going. You got it.”