It was but a board – square, colorful, and deceptively unassuming. Harsh living room lights shone across it, creating a glow around the familiar property cards, tiny green houses, and pair of dice. I stared at the silver hat, my regular token, as I rolled the dice. The dice tumbled to a six – my journey had begun.
***
Throughout my life, I have regarded Monopoly as more than just a board game; it consumed me like an obsession. During every family gathering, Monopoly stayed at the forefront of our minds. We competed in a marathon of strategy and negotiation, ultimately leading to an array of betrayals and surprises.
Initially, I was captivated by the idea of winning in a flashy way. I ensured I owned Boardwalk and Park Place, the two most expensive properties on the board. Impatiently, I would buy as many houses as possible, crossing my fingers that someone would land on them, making my victory inevitable.
I was too blinded by the illusion of progress to realize the mistakes I made. I immaturely based my success on pure chance with no real planning. No matter how often I got those expensive properties, I went bankrupt long before the game concluded. As a spectator, I noticed my sister buying up the cheaper properties, building up her wealth slowly so she could last the entire game and win.
With this newfound insight, my approach changed entirely. I read articles, watched videos, and played relentlessly with friends to perfect my strategy. I realized Monopoly wasn’t about quick wins but about patience and long-term strategy.
I stopped prioritizing the expensive properties; instead, I bought up railroads and utilities. Though they didn’t yield huge rent, they generated a steady cash flow, slowly growing my empire. The more I employed this strategy, the more I understood Monopoly is a test of resilience and perseverance.
This lesson echoed far beyond the game and seeped into my personal life. I learned the importance of patience when navigating through life and its challenges. I realized that the meaning of true success isn’t a singular major accomplishment, but an amalgamation of small deliberate choices made over time. That understanding was put to the test when my family had suddenly immigrated to the United States.
I felt as though I had been sent back to “Go” in the game of life. I was leaving my friends, routines, and comfort in a place so significant in my memory yet so insignificantly small as I flew overhead. The oncoming changes felt overwhelming. As a defense mechanism, I tried to force everything back to the way it was back “home” and was unable to adapt to a new environment.
But just as in Monopoly, I learned that to move forward, I had to take it one step at a time. I started with small goals: meeting one new person per week, exploring one new place in town. Gradually, I began finding my footing. What felt like a setback became an opportunity to build anew this idea called “home” — one piece at a time.
In life, just like in Monopoly, true success is built through resolve and steady progress that leads to the creation of an indestructible framework for life. As I prepare for the next chapter of my life, I know I will be ready for wherever the dice lands.
