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Case study
Tristan, about Cody, his 13 year old son
Before
Before OpenSchool, Cody’s days revolved around Minecraft. He quit his soccer team mid-season, and every request to “try something useful” (like coding or robotics) ended in conflict. With five kids at home, it was easier to let him be — but I worried he was drifting.
After 30 Days
30 days in, something shifted. Instead of hiding in PvP worlds, he built capture-the-flag maps, seamless doors, even mentored younger kids. At home he’d pull me aside to explain a project, or laugh while telling me about his group. I started to be proud of him again — and he seemed proud of himself.
What helped most
A crew that showed up every day, not just one-off classes.
Mentors who actually play Minecraft and could nudge him toward coding and storytelling.
Friends who cared about the same stuff, so he didn’t feel like the odd one out.
Simple check-ins for me, so I could ask the right questions instead of nagging.
results
Cody still spends hours online. But now those hours are building something, and he carries that energy back into real life. The struggles aren’t gone — they’re just finally the kind that help him grow.