Lives hung in the balance. One misdiagnosis, one wrongly stitched suture, one sloppy incision, and their deaths would be on my hands. For one year, every Tuesday, fifth period at 3:00 p.m., I got to play God. Or at least a black and white pixelated version of myself named Dr. Bigballs did.

Growing up in the early 90’s in a pre nu-mac and Windows95 world, computer class always seemed like a waste of our school’s budget. By the time I got to the 6th grade, I was able to see through the thinly veiled teaching devices that disguised learning with half-assed gaming. Number Munchers, Reader Rabbit, hell, even after three years The Oregon Trail began to feel tired and familiar like a road all too well traveled. Then came Life & Death…