Let’s face it: time never runs the way we want it to. No matter how many times you curse at the universe for hating you when a boring debate is taking place in social science class, time will never run fast enough to let you scream in joy when you really need to. This case, however, is the opposite. The last months in my life have rushed with little stop outside certain things in school. I cannot say I am satisfied with all the things I’ve gone through, though at the same time I am grateful for many of them. In this post, I feel tempted to blog for the sake of written memory about some of these points, but I will be fair to one of the major immediate changes I will go through when I turn 18 tomorrow. For those of you who don’t know already what Second Life is, it is a virtual world where people do whatever they please. It is divided into two sections: one for teens (13-17) and one for adults (18+). I was lucky enough to be brought into this environment when I could still get to see the happenings of the often ignored Teen Grid, which makes me sad as I never focused on making a positive impact on it. Now that it is time for me to migrate, I will try to contribute somewhat to the community by writing on a public space about the things I’ve learned while there (as opposed to the machinima I planned but never achieved), hoping that, one day, adults (including myself as of tomorrow) will appreciate, respect and exploit the opportunities that environments like this offer to the world. These are the top 10 things I learned (and in an unique way) on the TG.
10. No matter how many people may initially disagree, there is something worthwhile in all things and simulators. Or in most of them, at least. :p
[Images taken in Snicket and Coda sims]
9. You only find out what you’ve got until you’ve said ‘goodbye’ (i.e. mad FPS efficiency).
8. It’s good to be a consumerist sometimes. Well, the truth is it isn’t - I just think I would have been a bit happier if I had ever had a piece of land in Tolkien. <_<
7. Hang opportunities for teens on the ceiling and they may take them; put them in their cereal and you will be more successful. If you want even less margin for error, though, paste them on money notes.
6. Most adults (and teens, for that matter) on the TG aren’t willing to realise the number of opportunities they have just by being there (including myself).
5. All human defects and excesses find a space in SL - however, so do the just mediums, which keeps the struggle alive.
4. Imagination and will are the only limits.
3. Second Life would be overrated if it weren’t for Second Friends. And perhaps so would be the First one.
2. It does not matter how good your scripting, building, animating or designing skills are (or aren’t) - they make you good only when you use them for something good.
1. All success tastes sweeter when it is achieved and intended by and for a community.
Thanks to all the people who made this experience the way it was and for having an impact on First Mariel through the Second one. Being on the TG helped me find personal paths that I couldn’t have found otherwise. Thanks to Global Kids and Unicef for opening the opportunity; to Lucky F, Cheesepuff B and Guildenstern D for being good friends, and to Nafiza GKid, Rafi GKid and Katharine Berry for always being there when needed.
See you all on the MG! 
