Saige, 17, believes that video games are the answer to so many of society’s most daunting problems – that they are not just entertainment, but the latest and most important frontier where our world will learn to discard its prejudices.
And she wants to create video games that will inspire peace.
“Video games have a unique ability to connect people across the globe, regardless of their race, religion or background,” said Saige, a resident of the Colony of Humble affordable housing community near Houston, Texas. “This sense of global connection and collaboration is something I deeply admire and aspire to contribute to in the future.”
Saige is one of 33 recipients selected for the 2025 Building Bright Futures Scholarship by the Hope through Housing Foundation. Her $1,000 scholarship will go toward funding her dreams of obtaining a college education.
Saige, a homeschooled high school senior, said her desire to heal the world through technology started with her family’s food insecurity. The youngest of four children in a household led by a single mother, Saige hated the idea of her mother asking for help to feed her family.
One day, Saige’s neighbor let her borrow a Nintendo DS portable video game console – and she said it was like a revolution in her mind.
Saige was fascinated by how such a powerful piece of technology could fit in someone’s pocket. More importantly, she was stunned by all the love and care she found in the online gaming community.
Saige said the chance encounter helped her realize the importance of community and pushed her to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
“A major goal of mine is to partner with public housing agencies to host fun coding classes for kids in local communities,” Saige said. “I believe that this can support their learning, encourage them to think about careers in STEM, and overall, this can potentially plant seeds for future scientists.”
Her good deeds and achievements snowballed from there: Saige now volunteers at the Houston Food Bank and she participated in the 2024 computer science summer program at the University of Houston.
Saige has her sights set on attending Lone Star College, where she plans to study video game design. She said being a Building Bright Futures scholarship winner will go a long way in helping her achieve her dream.
“This is the first scholarship I’ve ever received; my whole family is so proud of me,” Saige said. “It will definitely be useful for paying for tuition, books and online resources to help me in studies.”
Saige also hopes to inspire the next generation of women in STEM.
“Historically, there has been a lack of minority women in STEM careers, and by breaking these barriers and entering this field, I hope to inspire other young women like myself to pursue their dreams,” Saige said. “I am determined to break barriers.”