Tech, gaming passions open doors

By AMY ADAMSON
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Junior Skyler Routon pursues an interest in technology, including video gaming and computer development that leads to new opportunities.

Skyler got his first video game console, a Gameboy, when he was six years old.

“I kinda grew up with videogames,” Skyler said.

Since then, Skyler has started a YouTube channel, a podcast and a SoundCloud known under the username ‘sodafountainjoy.’

“I needed a Twitter username, five or six years ago,” Skyler said. “I didn’t really think about it too much, but it kind of just caught on and that’s my name for everything.”

YouTube has played a huge role in Skyler’s advancements in his developing of technology along with sparking new hobbies such as making music, mastering the Rubik’s cube and furthering his yo-yo skills. So much so, that he eventually built his own computer to better suit his needs.

“Video games initially led to Skyler’s interest in computers,” Skyler’s father Monte Routon said. “Years ago, when he began to play Pokemon and needed answers, he discovered help on YouTube. YouTube helped lead him into his mastering Rubik’s Cube and his yo-yo career. Once he became interested in computers he kept learning until he could build his own PC that would meet his needs.”

Skyler and junior Danny Whaley, started playing videogames together, which led to their friendship.

“Well me and Skyler have known eachother for over ten years, and we have always played video games together, but the one that we play now, probably a couple months ago we became friends again, and we both played it so we just started playing together,” Whaley said.

While in middle school, Skyler decided to start a podcast to reach a different audience with his knowledge.

“We all liked to talk about, my friends and I, about our interests and stuff, and we figured we could reach an audience with that,” Skyler said.

Whaley thinks the podcasts are still a good idea, even though Skyler doesn’t post often anymore.

“The podcast was like in middle school, and it was just something that he wanted to do, and it’s still a good idea,” Whaley said. “At the time we were really into it like every week we would get together and record [it].”

Along with his podcast, Skyler also produced his own music on a SoundCloud page.

“For my yo-yo videos that my friends and I would do, [I used] my own original music, and a couple years ago, YouTube’s policies were different, so I wanted my own music, and I got more hardware for it so I progressed with that,” Skyler said.

Skyler enjoyed working on his music, but he is not sure if he is going to continue working on it.

“It’s relaxing. I like messing around with sounds. It’s kind of like a different art form that a lot of people don’t generally do,” Skyler said. “I’ve been mostly focused on other things right now. It’s been in the back of my mind and I’ll eventually work on it, but it’s not my top priority.”

Among his other hobby of professional yo-yoing, Skyler has been able to enjoy seeing the headquarters of a major online game developing company.

“I’ve gone to Valve a couple times. They’re a big software developer, and they also manage the largest digital distribution marketplace for computer games,” Skyler said. “I get to tour there every year.”

Along with seeing Valve, Skyler has made new friends through video games.

“I’ve met a lot of people,” Skyler said. “You meet a lot of people that you wouldn’t normally meet, that’s true with any hobby.”
Monte is excited to see what what is in the future for Skyler and how he will apply his interest to his future career.

“As a parent, it’s great to see your child so interested in something that can lead to other opportunities, and for Skyler that something is technology, and gaming is a big part of that,” Monte said. “Skyler has a great start to developing his passion of gaming, computers, and technology into what could lead to a fascinating, exciting and lucrative career.”