This BRI Student Fellow Connects Gaming And Civics

On the surface, it may not seem like video games and civics education go together. But if you ask Talan Shah, the two can be closely linked.

“Believe it or not, gaming and Esports tie back into a lot of things about civil society – it’s not all just playing video games competitively,” said Shah, a senior at Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa. “It's engaging in discussions and trends and just so much [more] information, which we see in civil society!”

Shah is a member of the Bill of Rights Institute’s 2024 Student Fellowship program, and he was also part of the 2023 cohort. Shah used his love of gaming to start an Esports team at his previous high school. This allowed him to share his gaming knowledge with the team at his current school.

“Esports is definitely one of my favorite hobbies, and eventually I hope to take my skills to the next level professionally one day,” Shah said.

Shah learned about BRI’s Student Fellowship program from one of his teachers, and it inspired him to learn more about BRI’s other offerings.

“What interests me most about this opportunity is how much I can learn,” Shah said. “Through BRI and the Student Fellowship program, I gain access to amazing materials which we get to read and learn about as almost a big giant family!”

Shah appreciates that the Student Fellowship program is focused on civic engagement. BRI Student Fellows participate in programming during the school year, and their experience will culminate this summer with capstone trips to Philadelphia, Pa., and Washington, D.C.

Shah plans to study computer science in college and hopes to combine his knowledge of technology and civics and positively contribute to civil society.

“What I hope to learn from the Student Fellowship program is how I, as one person, can contribute and make this world and civil society a better place,” Shah said. “Being a part of last year's cohort and knowing how it feels to engage with what BRI has, it has made me into a better person.”