Keyaan’s Passion for Esports Shapes Career Aspirations
In the dynamic world of esports, where virtual battlefields are both arenas for competition and collaboration, Keyaan Hussain, a student at Sheffield United Community College, is seizing the opportunities provided by the college to chase his dream of becoming a professional gamer. According to his latest rank Keyaan is placed within the top 200 best players in the whole European region. In a region which boasts the highest player count and largest pool of prize money, this is an impressive feat. His path from a hopeful gamer to a top-tier Fortnite player in Europe’s competitive gaming scene tells a story of passion, dedication, and resilience. However, like many young gamers, Keyaan wanted to combine his passion for Esports with a formal qualification that would help shape his future career.
As a mainstream industry, Esports is only in its infancy. Keyaan decided that by enrolling in a programme of study within this field would not only supplement his professional gaming career, but fast track his career opportunities at university and beyond. When sharing his experiences of the Esports course, Keyaan was complimentary around the social platform and future opportunities provided to him. “My experience on this course has been excellent, and I believe it has genuinely been perfect for me given the doors that it can open in the future. The course has helped me meet new people and form strong friendships with people I would have previously only spoken to online. The assistance and support I receive from the college is greatly appreciated, especially since I’ve had difficulties adjusting to new social environments in the past.”
Despite his clear passion for Esports, Keyaan was aware that the course itself provided much more than just gaming. “I have learnt about many things on this course not just about esports, but even business in general. It has opened my eyes to the wider industry that goes into the behind-the-scenes production and marketing of a video game. This diversity has made the learning experience truly enjoyable, with each lesson presenting new insights into esports and its related subjects.”
James Sellars, Esports Programme Leader, spoke highly of Keyaan’s influence amongst the Esports cohort. “Keyaan is an inspiration to all students looking to maximise their opportunities within the esports industry, but also further his academic studies. Throughout his time with the BLADES, Keyaan has demonstrated the highest of standards, reaching Distinction throughout the course and achieving a BTEC level 3 extended diploma, enabling his advancement onto the Sheffield Hallam Esports Events Management degree. His development over the last two years with his Fortnite, but most importantly personal development has been fantastic, and I am very proud of the young man he has become. Keyaan has a bright future in professional gaming, but also as a role model for all future students looking to join our BTEC course.”
When speaking to Keyaan about his future goals, he noted ambitious plans both in and around the competitive gaming scene. “My plans are to stick with Fortnite until I can no longer compete at the top. I have dedicated a lot of time to this game and therefore, want to keep pushing to see how far it takes me! Alongside my goals of becoming a professional Fortnite player, I plan to start running my own streaming service and build a platform and brand which can broadcast my gameplay on Twitch. By doing so will help with increasing my brand awareness which could lead to future sponsorship or employment opportunities.”
The college is proud that Keyaan chose Sheffield United as a place to study and is hopeful that the education content, enrichment opportunities and bespoke environment has helped contribute to his potential success. Whatever happens in the future, the college will keep a close eye on the progress made by Keyaan in the years to come, with the hope that one day he will return as a course ambassador.
Click here for more information around the Esports BTEC study programme or here to explore other courses available at Sheffield United Community College.