In part one of our extended Women of the FGC interview with Athena, the insightful player recalled her first tournament experiences and how she joined Nfinite. In part two, she gets more personal, especially on how to navigate the scene as a female gamer. Athena dreams big about her goals to become a doctor and how her strengths from Tekken have influenced her individual development. Read on for more bits of brilliance from Heihachi’s “alter ego.”

Do you use anything like breathing apps or mindfulness before a game?

Yes, I actually learned that in XO Academy. Things you can do like stretches, or breathing regimens, even meditation, and it goes a long way. I use this stuff in everyday life. When I have an exam, I’m breathing, I'm in the back of the class breathing and my instructors understand that. It’s just a way to calm my center and just focus on the task at hand. It’s very important.

It sounds like the skill set you’ve built in the FGC has extended to your everyday life. How do you see the interplay between those two worlds?

In the beginning, I didn’t see one at all. I lived a life that was very separate in the gaming world and real world, so when they started coming together, it was very unconscious. I didn’t realize it until it was so easy to do without thinking about it and I had people pointing it out to me that these worlds were colliding. So in the beginning, no correlation, no similarities. But I’m starting to realize that what I do amongst the FGC is a part of me, so no wonder it should be a part of my everyday life.

Even before I got on this call, I did some breathing exercises to mellow myself out. I’m not here to sign up for a tournament, we’re just here to talk! This comes way too naturally. I would say about 4-5 months after XO Academy I started realizing that this is me, this is who I am. And it feels good.

When was XO Academy for you?

September 2020.

So it’s been over a year now. It sounds like you’re learning and growing, and I appreciate you sharing those feelings. Circling back to earlier about giving advice to new FGC players -- would your advice change if you were talking to someone like yourself?

It would change in terms of language. It would stay roughly the same, but I probably would be more aggressive in the prep because I do tend to lack confidence, and being super shy it would probably be more like prep talk, “Get acclimated, you can do this, you got this, you’re Athena.” It would be the same, just a bit more aggressive, a little more righteous.

I love that -- aggressive affirmations! It sounds like you’d be a little more straightforward with female competitors. Speaking of the personal side of things, how do you navigate being a student and being a player?

Honestly I do not know. There are days like now in midterms week that I can’t do much and it hurts to say no. I was invited to an exhibition and I can't do it because it's a midterm day. It’s important that school comes first so I can meld these two worlds together. So it’s very difficult to balance, but that’s where I have my team to ask for advice. I have my team to ask “Is it okay if I don’t do this, can I put a placeholder and come back to this?”

It is so cool to have a team or family to say yeah you take care of what you need to take care of and we’ll always be there for you. It’s hard because I really love this and don’t want to let anyone down, and I want to give 130% every single time. Sometimes I can’t do that. But I know when the next opportunity comes around I have a chance to give 150% percent and I’m gonna do that, it’s going to happen. I’ll get it going.

It sounds like you always do! Tell me more about school and what you’re studying.

I’m studying cardiology. Right now I’m in grad school, first semester, to kind of back up my support to get into medical school. It’s a roller coaster because these two things don’t correlate, but I’m going to make them correlate somehow. I want to break boundaries and make gaming and the heart work together.

I have a thesis already! I haven’t graduated yet, but I’m ready to go. I’m super prepared, super thinking into the future. Very thankful to be in school and be able to do this. It’s tough, but in the long run I’m hoping to be a doctor or work in a hospital and be a surgeon for the heart. I love the heart and the human body and just helping people.

That’s amazing. I hope you’re able to achieve that dream of being a Doctor of Esports! Back to Tekken, I know you’re a Heihachi player. When I think of him and I think of you, you’re so different. What has assuming the avatar of Heihachi and being a part of his story taught you about yourself?

That maybe I want to be like Heihachi, but maybe I can’t do it. There’s an alter ego inside me that is locked deep inside me that has the Heihachi side, and that’s why these pep talks are so righteous, more angry because I need that to bring the best out of me. Heihachi doesn't care, he does what he wants, he says what he wants, he runs the world with a smile on his face, and he’s unapologetic. I think a part of me is seeking that somewhere, deeply. He balances me out because maybe I see myself in him in the game.

I prefer to play him very meticulously, which is kind of funny. He brings out what I want to bring out in myself, but I also play him how I view the world. I'm not very offensive when I play him; I’m patient, I like to wait, I like to bait, I like to move, take my time. That’s how I view life.

That’s how I play, but he is also as a person like how I want to be. I’ve never felt a perfect yin and yang with a character before, but Heihachi does it for me. He is everything I have ever wanted and needed, so I’m never going to stop playing him. Bring him back please, thanks.

What do you love about being in an offline environment playing the game?

I love interacting with people. Yes I’m shy and quiet, but being in the FGC is loud, and active, and everyone is screaming and jumping up and down. When those “hype” moments happen, chills run all over my body, I get these shivers. I love the offline aspect. It’s like a party, and we’re all sitting here celebrating video games, because video games are a big part of my life.

It’s like a high, it’s so euphoric. I want that for as much as I can have it, because nothing can take its place, nothing. Even the other things I”m passionate about, nothing gets me going like offline events and competing in Tekken. It's awesome.

Can you think of one event that was really hype that sticks with you?

The most hype event I talked about was CEO, but there was another event a little after. Red Bull Conquest Orlando was a great event. It was run so smoothly -- they had setups for everyone and I actually was able to speak to the pro Tekken player Anakin who was sponsored by Red Bull.

He gave me advice because I straight up told him “What do you do when you’re nervous and you worry about what everyone is thinking about you?” Because that’s how I feel and I was never able to get an answer that was congruent to me and he just said “You gotta walk that stuff out and just play.” Talking to someone who has experienced it and done it for a long time and I think perfected it, that resonated with me.

I actually have a picture of Anakin on my phone from that tournament because I didn’t want to forget that moment. I hope he doesn’t think it’s creepy! But I’ll show it to him if he wants. Getting to speak to him was a great experience.

Those are the personal moments that make offline events so hype! Any shoutouts to other people that have kept you mentally well and made you feel better as a player?

There’s quite a bit of people, but recently I’ve learned that it’s better to have a smaller circle and focus on the people that got you authentically. First and foremost Mike_ATL, amazing guy, calls me one of his favorite students. He’s super cool. He teaches me things about life in general, like stocks. They don’t teach you that in school but he really wants to make sure you’re covered in every aspect of your life. Of course the Infinite owner, Preston, who I’ve made him cry, not on purpose, but genuinely having love for these people who are like big brothers to me.

Of course my sister for life, Cuddle Core. I don’t care what the circumstances are, I will forever and ever hold her in my heart. She is near and dear to me. She’s seen something in me, and I’ve always seen something in her that I believe the world is her oyster. She can conquer anything she sets her mind to. She can do things beyond the FGC. I hope I can follow in her footsteps, but also make my own footsteps. Wholesome shoutouts to those three.

From my perspective it sounds like you’re in a good place. Is there anything else you want people to know about you?

I think we covered a lot. I feel good because we got to delve deeper into the shyness of me. I stream quite a bit and my community says “Wow you’re so fun and eccentric and you have good energy,” but if you met me in person you wouldn’t say that. It’s easy to be a goofball to the camera or in chat, but in person it takes time to open up and be rowdy and fun.

I feel good about opening up about why I’m quiet. Maybe it’ll help others understand when approaching me “okay she’s gonna be a little quiet and to herself, but I’ll work my way and get her going.” I appreciate getting the chance to talk on that.

Follow Athena on Twitter @Athena_4Lyfe and on Twitch to stay up to date on her developing career in Tekken and beyond. If Athena’s story inspired you to play, sign up for one of the Playstation Competition Center’s monthly events.