I am the founder of Saving Throw, and can wholeheartedly attest to the benefit of tabletop roleplaying games.

My dad works in the hospitality industry, which meant we were often on the move. We have lived all over the world, from Thailand, China, the Maldives, the U.S., and now Iceland. When I was nine, we moved to the U.S. from the island of Koh Samui, the island I call home, where I had spent most of my childhood. It was a completely different place and culture. I had also skipped a grade, so I was younger than my classmates—a combination that left me feeling isolated and unable to fit in.

In summer camp that year, while I was hanging out and playing video games with the few friends I had, our camp’s chaperone started a club which introduced us to something called Dungeons & Dragons. I was curious. I had heard the name before but I didn’t know anything about it, so I created my first character—a dragonlike humanoid with a crossbow—and dove right into it. I was hooked from the start. D&D was and is exuberantly fun, creative, and engaging. I made some good memories from that campaign, and from others I have played since.

Over the years, I learned the rules, founded clubs at every school I attended, and built lifelong friendships along the way. I improved my public speaking capabilities, confidence, and storytelling skills. It helped me make my own sense of belonging, gave me a creative outlet and introduced a way for me to connect with people no matter where I was in the world. This game changed my life for the better—and it might do the same for someone else. Consider donating or trying it for yourself. Who knows? It could be the start of something amazing.