Editor’s Note: I “met” TP online. Whether it was on Twitter or a Discord group, I am remiss for details. But such a meeting is typical for most local web3 communities. As we had finally met in real life for a discussion with a New York Times journalist, I got to know her a bit more. The vagabonds today are the leaders of tomorrow and I asked her to write a short piece on how she jumped ship from her teaching job into doing crypto full time.
(photo c/o Real Deal Guild)
Six years ago, I was a teacher, driven by a passion for educating and sharing knowledge. Teaching was not just my profession but my calling, and I found immense joy in helping others learn and grow.
Around the same time, I was introduced to the world of crypto and blockchain technology. My brother, an OFW, began sending money through a crypto platform to avoid the hassle and high fees of traditional remittance services. This was my first encounter with blockchain, a technology that intrigued me with its potential to revolutionize financial transactions.
Fast forward to June 2020, amidst the global pandemic, my brother introduced me to Axie Infinity. With the world in lockdown and everything moving online, I found solace and excitement in this game. Having grown up playing video games like PSP, Nintendo, and Pokémon, Axie Infinity was not just a game but a new adventure where I could earn money.
During the pandemic, many Filipinos faced unemployment. Seeing an opportunity to help, my brother and I began breeding Axies and taking on scholars to play the game. It started with a student from my former school who showed interest in my Axie Infinity posts. He bought Axies from us, and I guided him step-by-step—from creating a crypto wallet to playing the game. His enthusiasm spread to his friends and classmates, leading us to breed more Axies.
What began as a hobby quickly turned into something more significant. We built a community, a guild we named Real Deal Guild, one of the pioneering blockchain gaming guilds in the Philippines, founded in 2020. This guild, which started with a few random connections on Discord, grew into a thriving community that remains active today.
In 2021, I made a pivotal decision. With Real Deal Guild taking off, I chose to leave my teaching job and immerse myself fully in the crypto world. My journey extended beyond gaming into trading, NFT collecting, and exploring various opportunities within the crypto ecosystem. I connected with numerous like-minded individuals, expanding my network and deepening my understanding of this revolutionary field.
Today, though I am no longer teaching within the confines of a classroom, I continue to educate and inspire in the realm of crypto and blockchain. I strive to introduce people to the possibilities of the Metaverse and make a meaningful impact through my work. My journey from the classroom to the crypto world has been transformative, and I am excited to see what the future holds. By Teresa Pia
