Pokemon Yellow Shaped My Childhood in Ways I Could Have Never Expected
Like a lot of people my age, *Pokemon* was a huge part of my childhood. I vividly remember getting *Pokemon Yellow* and a Game Boy Advance for Christmas – it’s the only Christmas I truly remember, and felt like a real gift. I have no idea how my mom managed to afford it, especially given we were very poor growing up. While I don’t want to dwell on those difficult times, poverty has definitely left its mark on me, influencing some of my habits even today. Through all the hardship, video games offered an escape, and they really shaped who I am. I don’t think games *should* only be about escaping reality, but I understand the power of that escape more than most.