By Kelline Linton, Chief Copy Editor

My boyfriend and I have two very different hobbies: I read books, he plays online games. But I am never one to turn down the chance to try something new, so last week I grabbed a controller and entered the World of Warcraft.

Within one hour, I came to understand the gamer’s excitement, the thrill of conquest and the satisfaction of discovery. I was a priest, a rogue or a paladin: any role was possible with the click of a mouse.

I like playing games but usually limit myself to board games or cards.

Play me at Phase 10 or Clue, and I can give you a run for your money, but the online world was unexplored territory beyond my attention. My busy schedule with classes and work meant no time for virtual diversions, but maybe games were exactly what I needed in such a hectic life.

This revelation came to me after I re-read the same sentence in my English textbook at least 40 times. I knew enough was, well, enough. My boyfriend’s laptop glowed invitingly. I needed the break, so for the next two hours, I ran around in a three- imensional world and fought monsters, mined for gold and found treasure chests. When was the last time you did something so adventurous?

World of Warcraft may not be your “cup of tea.” Perhaps you are an avid fan of Final Fantasy X1 or Halo. Maybe you, like I once did, disdain the online world for its stereotypical gamer image (think South Park episode “Make Love Not Warcraft”).

Either way, entertainment is essential for everyone. It is the spice of life. Allow some time each day to enjoy yourself even if your diversion from the mundane world is as simple as flying a kite or as complex as a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game.