Video Game "Fire Emblem: Three Houses" Proves Knowledge is Power
Official art for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
By Nelson Fernandez
Originally released for the Nintendo Switch game console on July 26, 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers players the role of the protagonist, allowing them to teach characters how to fight on the battlefield through social and strategic aspects, and improve their critical thinking and leadership skills.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was developed by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo, who worked on making it a unique gaming experience.
The three houses, called, Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer, represent kingdoms in which the different characters become students who rely on players to gain specific knowledge. For example, Edelgard, a female leader of the Black Eagles, wishes to learn how to be a good leader and fight with an axe; the player must teach her how it’s done.
As professors, players can make each of their character-students stronger by building their motivation. When not on the battlefield, gamers can explore the school and focus on making characters bond, eat together or exchange gifts and lost items found around the academy. The premise of the game almost reflects school life.
An example of the game’s battles. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
During a battle, players solve a puzzle by deciding where to move their army of soldiers in training. When a student fights and defeats an enemy, they gain experience through level-up points that increase the characters' stamina and skills. In real life, students learn and grow the more they study, and the same is true of the students in the game.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses also helps with reflexes and reaction time. During the battle, it is suggested to watch carefully where the enemy team moves, as well as their actions. This is so that when it is a player’s turn again, he/she will know what to do to counter them.Fire Emblem: Three Houses includes a myriad of dialogue scenes with full-voice acting.
Student stats and relationships increase after bonding or gift-giving. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
The story builds slowly keeping players entertained through well-written lines and diverse characters. After a duration of time, the game tracks separate stories depending on which house the player chose at the start, guaranteeing plenty of replay value.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the highest-rated video game of the summer, rated 9.5/10 by ING and reviewed as a 4.5 star game by over 1,000 customers as seen on Best Buy and Game Stop's websites.
One Lehman student who plays the game also gave it high praise.
“I enjoy strategic role-playing games during my free time,” said Anthony Vasquez, a 23-year-old films and television senior at Lehman. “This game helped me look at problems from different angles and tackle them based on what is the best solution.”
Reel Abilities Festival Celebrates Diverse Capabilities
by Nelson N. Fernandez
As a tribute to Disability Awareness Month, the Student Disability Services Department at Lehman College hosted the seventh annual ReelAbilities Film Festival, on April 3 and 4. The festival included four feature-length and seven short films that inspired nearly 200 viewers in attendance to change their perspectives toward people with disabilities. Each screening was followed by brief discussions with the filmmakers.
The feature documentary, “America,” focused on an elderly woman with dementia named “America” as her grandsons struggle with the challenge of caring for her. impressed Sebastian, an audience member who also helped with setting up the event at Lehman College, he stated that they have “never seen such a film where we see through the point of view of the caregiver.”
Shorter films such as “Shakespeare in Tokyo” and “JMAXX and The Universal Language” were also screened. These films touched on other illnesses such as down syndrome and autism. Sebastian thought the shorts were “heart-warming and entertaining.”
Another audience member, Joe Ottenthal, an elementary school teacher in the Bronx, said he was “happy to have found and attended [the festival] for the first time. The shorts were outstanding” and that “bringing visibility to people and students with disabilities and special needs is an effort that is near to my heart.”
Merrill Parra, Director of Student Disability Services and the developer of the festival at Lehman, stated that “the festival embodies the mission of Lehman College, as a cultural center for the Bronx, and its values of inclusion and diversity.”
Shakespeare in Tokyo (2018)
Jmaxx and the Universal Language (2017)
America (2019)
Financial Planning Helps Students Avoid Pitfalls
2019 Costs of Attendance | CUNY Lehman College.” College Tuition Compare, www.collegetuitioncompare.com/edu/190637/cuny-lehman-college/tuition/.
by Nelson Fernandez
College is a great investment, but students may undergo financial stress. Before and throughout their college career, students should have a budget plan. Undergraduates of Lehman College face an average annual tuition of $7,210 for New York State residents, and $14,880 on average for out-of-state students.
Students have the option to either request a loan or apply for financial aid through FAFSA if they are eligible. Before making that choice, students discuss with their parents or guardian which option is best for them.
Students may have to work part time in order to afford public transportation and food on campus, and to budget the time to study and complete assignments for classes. Creating a schedule in advance can help students manage these demands, as can a financial budget.
When enrolling in courses for the following semester, students should calculate the costs for each class, including food and round-trip transportation costs. Some students suggest using budget apps to help. “I have a better idea of how I spend my money now that I have this app called Mint which helps me budget,” said Davidia Boykins, a Lehman English major minoring in Biology. “Also, it shows me where I should cut down on spending money.”
According to Lauren Schwahn in NerdWallet, students “don’t have to go through a grueling process, like filling out a spreadsheet every day; you’ll have enough homework. Just set aside some time at least once a month to review your money situation. Budgeting apps and online banking can help make the process more manageable,” (2019).
Still, managing costs can be a struggle for students. Zarin Siddiqua, an English major minoring in education, comes to Lehman all the way from Queens. She explained: “I struggle with food. I’m always buying food because I come all the way from Queens, and I must leave my house early in order to get to school. Sometimes, I will meal prep overnight but that’s only if I’m able to get home from work before 12 in the night and I’m not tired.”
Textbooks can be quite expensive too, especially for science and math courses. Renting out textbooks from the college’s bookstore or from Amazon and Chegg can help save some cash.
Students who apply for FASFA may receive a refund check mid-semester; it is highly recommended that they save it in a bank account. A student bank account includes benefits such as discounts on clothes and accessories via CUNY e-mail.
Steven Roa, a Lehman English major, receives financial assistance and stated, “I save the refund I receive in my savings for future emergencies and for my aspirations. Sometimes I spend money on food. And other times I spend on needs, such as a bike.”