The most recent trend to grace the halls Westhampton has gained quite the following in this illustrious reward school. If you haven’t noticed already, a highly elite population of the students here at WHB are engaging in what may very well be the most life-changing fad of the year. If you are one of the many people who have not been fortunate enough to encounter this trend, then you’re missing out. It’s more than a game. It’s more than a hobby. It’s a way of life.

When you get together with your friends, you may go to the mall. You may hang out in town or go see a movie. Perhaps you might even spend some quality time at your local library and enjoy a blissful literature-filled afternoon. The point is, you probably won’t be sitting around doing absolutely nothing. The same goes for a select group of students -comprised mostly of seniors- that thoroughly enjoys spending time with one another and indulging in their newfound interest. However, for some members of this exclusive society, their preferred method of passing time represents much more than it may seem.

When asked about what the game truly means to him, senior and heirloom tomato enthusiast, Lukas Skylar Jurow replied, “Perhaps it’s a way of life…perhaps.” Luke’s history with the game goes back to “when I was a kid and played a lot. Then I stopped, for many years, and started again this year.” When we trace back the history of Luke’s encounters with the game, we find that the moment which sparked his interest in playing again was when “Tahsin came to me and wanted to play. He said, ‘Show me how to play,’ and I said, ‘I will teach you.’”  Wow, quite the compelling story. Most importantly, however, is the reason why Luke plays. He says, with a look of whole-hearted sincerity, that he plays for “personal salvation.” Now that’s truly inspirational.

Another student who is passionate about this way of life is forestry aficionado and senior Robert Alexander Love IV. Bob is heartfelt about the fact that the meaning of the game is “great times with my friends!” A novice to the game, Bob has only been playing for around four months, and his inspiration to get into the game was “Luke Jurow, of course.” Perhaps more moving is the reason why Bob plays, which is because, “I like strategy-based games… and I’m better than Tahsin Korur.” Couldn’t have said it better myself, chief.

Now that we’ve seen what the students have to say, you may be wondering what this new trend even is; well, for starters, it was the first trading card game ever produced- back in ’93. Its participants equip themselves with a deck of at least sixty cards, for each game signifies a battle between mighty wizards, referred to as ‘planeswalkers.’ From creatures, to artifacts, to enchantments and all kinds of spells, each player employs strategies to attack, defend, and defeat their opponent(s). This particular game has significantly more cards and more complex rules than many other card games, which is perhaps one of many aspects that piques student interest.

For all the skeptics, we ask that you approach this game with an open mind. After all, you can’t knock it ‘till you try it. Just remember; this isn’t the next big thing. It’s the only thing. So what are you waiting for? Do you really want to be the only person who hasn’t experienced the wonders of this magical world? Exactly. So put down your iPhone, grab a deck, grab a friend, and let the unparalleled extravagance of Magic the Gathering change your life.