My story of how I became a Minecrafter is something I never thought I'd experience. Ever.

I remember playing Minecraft Pocket Edition. I had saved up my money to buy it, and I'd play it 24/7 with my brother. We we're both obsessed, and loved it. I fell in love with the pigs, because I had an odd obsession to them back then. I never really thought about getting the PC version. I enjoyed PE way too much, and I thought PC was rather expensive.

My brothers both got Minecraft for PC before me. I sat by my brother and watched him play, so I thought, "why not try it?" Most people probably joined Minecraft this way as well. I loved it even more than PE, learning that there was more to PC. I played it for such a long time. But as most games do, it got boring. I didn't like playing alone, and I took a break from it for maybe a year, not even touching Minecraft.

After that year, my brother told me about servers. I was interested and he gave me some IPs to start with. One of the very first servers I ever went on was HiveMC. I loved the games there, and I always played Deathrun. I never really liked PvP. I was more of a parkour person. But I still fell in love with Trouble in Mineville. If I hadn't, I never would have met the reasons I am who I am today.

I made a ton of friends, sure. I never thought I could have a true friendship with someone across all the way across the country. But I became really good friends with a girl named BeGwen. We played TIMV a lot together, and she was really good at it. She was always super convincing when she was a traitor.

One day, I got on HiveMC to see Gwen was in a game of TIMV. I hopped in the game and watched. Gwen was playing with another girl. The girl was shot by an arrow and died. We struck up a conversation in the chat of dead people and became pretty good friends. Me, her and Gwen all played together for hours. Everyday I'd come back to HiveMC hoping it wasn't one of those "say hi, play a few games, forget one another." It never was.

We began to get in touch on other areas. We met a ton of other people, which we are still friends with today. Unfortunately, I've lost touch with Gwen. I don't play on HiveMC anymore, and we don't really have any other means of communicating. But me, the girl and a few others are still in contact. We talk to one another every single day and I would never be who I am without these people. I had been struggling to make friends in real life, since I'm painfully shy and don't really like socialization. They taught me what it's like to have a true friend, not one that leaves you after just meeting you. They've shown me love in my darkest times, something I never thought I would know. They've shown me what it's like be happy and really smile. These people are the best, sweetest, kindest, most generous people I know.

And I met them all on Minecraft.

Being a part of Minecraft or a "Minecrafter" will never be about how good you are at surviving, PvP, or whatever your skill is. It will always be about the love that comes from it. No matter what server you go to, there are people working behind it just so people like you can be happy and have a great time. And so you can meet people who will make you feel loved and wanted if you're not. They will make you smile and laugh.

Me, the girl, Gwen and all the others have known each other for a little more than a year now. We've had our ups and downs. But I would not be here writing this as the person I am if I had not met any of them. They've opened my eyes to who I really am, and changed me as a person. I love them dearly and Minecraft has most definitely changed my life. Thank you Mojang, for creating this game and allowing me to meet the best people I've ever known.

You've all shown me great love, and I feel it's time I do the same.

Thank you Gwen for all you've done. Although you do not have a PMC, I hope you read this someday. You've completely turned my life around, and in a good way. You've introduced me to some of the greatest people of my life. You were a huge part of my life, even if we don't talk much anymore, which I'm sorry for. I hope you're still just as crazy good at TIMV as you were then. I love you, Gwen.

Thank you to the girl. Speaker. You've changed my life in so many ways and I am so happy and grateful that I joined that TIMV game when I did. We've laughed and cried together. You've been there even in my most darkest and lowest times, and showed me love through it all. I don't think I'd even be alive if it weren't for you. You are my life. You are my sun. You are my everything, and I know I don't say it enough. In fact, I don't think I've ever said it. So I'm saying it now. (And you sound so much like a cat when you meow, it's terrifying) I love you, Speaker.

Thank you to one of those other friends. Lib. We aren't as close as I want us to be. But whether we are super close or not, you've stood by me. Even if we haven't spoken in months, I still feel close to you. You're my best friend, and I want you to know that if you feel we aren't. I love you, Lib.

Thank you to another dear friend, who I didn't meet on Minecraft. But if I hadn't have met anyone there, I wouldn't have met you. Lina. Believe it or not, you're the one I rant to the most when I feel down or upset. You're the one who comforts me when no one else can. You make me feel so special and wanted, even if it's over something insanely stupid. You make me laugh when I'm sad and make me smile when I'm angry. I love you, Lina.

You are all everything to me. Thank you all for being a part of my life, and I hope we never stop being friends. Gwen, Speaker, Lib, Lina and everyone else I've met. Everyone else that's shown me love like no other. You are what makes me a Minecrafter.

(1,146 words.)