AoKH Presents: Matt Scadding aka "maimin_matty"

When I was about 12 I watched movies like Goonies. They spoke to me of dreams and adventures. I always wondered what it would be like to have a grand adventure of my own. One year ago I lived through one of my dreams…. I won the Rumble for Rome. The child in me screamed with glee. Even attending the tournament was something I never thought would happen to me. I can envision myself telling my grandchildren about the big event 50 years from now.

One of the side effects of actually living my dream was that the dream changed. Instead of dreaming of winning I dreamt of helping to create instead.   At the end of January someone from Microsoft contacted me about going to Seattle again in February for something called Gamestock (some of you may have seen it advertised on the zone). Unfortunately it was almost in the middle of my exams but after switching some things around I was set. February came and I couldn’t believe I was heading to Microsoft for my second time.

I arrived in the evening to find that my hotel room must have been upgraded. There was some other convention going on in the same hotel…so lucky me got a suite with 2 TVs, 2 balconies,a hot tub, living room, kitchen area and was on the top floor of the hotel. My room was larger then my 2-bedroom apartment back in Guelph. The next day was spent looking at some of Microsoft’s upcoming games. At the time Age of Kings and Asheron’s Call were still in their early beta stages.

Two of the coolest zone staff took me out that second day for a kick ass dinner. After dinner we went to one of the most extravagant video game palaces I have ever seen. It was a special time. After 3 days I was home again. I ran into a friend, from one of my classes at school, in the grocery store. She tried to play a joke on me telling me I had missed a midterm. I laughed but when she didn’t give up I realized I HAD missed my exam! I have no idea how I could of overlooked it but…. Anyway, my teacher was very forgiving.

A month or so later Microsoft Canada held a Gamestock of their own (much smaller then the American one). Well I was there I ran into one of my friend’s who I had met out in Redmon. We chatted a bit after which he told me I should try and get a job at MS for the summer. I couldn’t believe he was serious..

The next few weeks were tense for me. Every email I sent to Redmond seemed to take years before I received a response. The program I had originally tried to get into (intern program) was already filled….but they might be able to squeeze me in under contract. Then came the interview; my mouth felt dry. They were going to phone at 4pm. But as this time approached I felt the overwhelming desire to use the lavatory. I kept trying to hold it in case they phoned a little early. Sure enough as soon as I headed to the washroom *ring**ring*. I suppose the interview went better then I thought because the next day I was offered the job.

I couldn’t believe it. I realized that my new dream was to work with computers. The idea of working at a place like Microsoft was almost beyond my comprehension. But there was a catch…. I needed to get a visa.  From here on in the story gets a little depressing as my dream is smashed my a rather egotistical sadistic border guard. The visa was not issued. 

I was definitely a little nervous when I arrived at the border. The plan was to pick up the visa then fly out from Toronto. I knew there was a chance I wouldn’t get the visa. When I didn’t get the visa I felt like an evil border guard demon had come in to my dream and crushed my hopes…turning my dream into a nightmare.  

Even though I'm disappointed I am not beat. Another summer draws closer and if Microsoft is willing to try again then I am willing to try once again as well. Hopefully by the end of this coming summer my dream will come true and I will be able to tell you about the joys and hard work involved being a Microsoft employee.

   - Matt Scadding aka "maimin_matty"