Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaidon White.
Hi Jaidon , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My name is Jaidon White, and I’m the founder of Ebonova, my own video game studio. I’m also a student at Full Sail University, working on my third degree here. I’ve already earned two. I’m a United States Marine Corps veteran, and I also served a year with City Year, where I committed over 1,700 hours mentoring and educating kids.
How I got here really starts with a dream. Since I was about eleven years old, I’ve wanted to go to Full Sail. That was always the goal: to be in the game industry. Full Sail costs a lot of money, and I didn’t have much growing up. After high school, I didn’t have many options, so I decided to join the military.
The Marine Corps was the only branch that was consistently around. Their recruiters were always there, so that’s where I went. I became a Combat Engineer, served in Okinawa, Japan, and that experience shaped a lot of who I am. I carried all of the discipline, the structure, and the leadership with me when I got out in 2015.
After the Marines, I went to Alabama State University and spent about four years there. While I was in school, I joined City Year, which took me all the way to New Hampshire. I spent a year mentoring kids, teaching, and helping out in schools, and that’s where I got those 1,700 hours of community service. It was honestly a life-changing experience. It taught me empathy, teamwork, and the importance of giving back.
Then COVID hit. Around that time, my younger brother passed away unexpectedly. That completely broke me. But at the same time, it reminded me of that dream I had when I was eleven. I used to always tell my brother that one day, I’d make it into the game industry, and he passed away before he ever got to see that happen. That pain lit a fire under me. I told myself, “No more waiting. No more excuses.”
So I bet everything on myself and enrolled at Full Sail University, and once I got here, I hit the ground running. I didn’t waste a second. Even though my degree is in Game Design, I’ve been heavily involved in production work. I’ve directed over a hundred live productions, including graduations, podcasts, esports events, and more. I’ve worked as a director, a technical director, a camera operator, a jib operator, you name it.
I volunteer for a ton of projects because I just want to learn everything I can. I’ve worked with local studios like Indienomicon and OMG Labs, and I’ve been active in game jams and the Orlando dev community.
Now, aside from my studies, I’ve begun learning virtual production at Full Sail’s Studio V1, where I volunteer weekly, and I’m continuing to build Ebonova. I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’ve come a long way from that kid who used to sit and dream about Full Sail.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course it hasn’t been a smooth road. Not at all.
The biggest struggle I’ve had to deal with is the fact that I grew up in an environment where nobody had ever heard of someone doing the kind of things I wanted to do. Where I’m from, wanting to make video games wasn’t a real thing. People didn’t believe that was possible. I used to get told all the time that I needed to reconsider my goals, that I should be more “realistic.” But I’ve never been that type of person. I’ve always had my own vision.
And yeah, growing up, I was on the adverse side of things. I was scrawny and weaker than everybody else, but I was also gifted and smart. So, I had to figure out how to navigate life differently. That alone was a challenge.
Then you get to the Marines, and that was another test altogether. I was the smallest, the slowest, left-handed, visually impaired, and I couldn’t swim. They literally told me the odds were stacked against me making it through. But I did. I earned my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. That’s something no one can ever take away from me.
Working with kids through City Year was another challenge. You have to learn patience, you have to learn empathy. It’s not easy — but it’s rewarding. Kids test you, but they also teach you a lot about yourself.
And then there’s Full Sail. Full Sail is not a cakewalk. Not even close. I’ve had plenty of sleepless nights and times when I worked myself to exhaustion. But I just kept pushing.
Because at the end of the day, as hard as it’s been, I wouldn’t trade any of it. Every bit of struggle has built me into who I am now. The fulfillment I get from doing what I love makes it all worth it. That’s what keeps me going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Game Designer, Director, and Producer. I’m the founder of Ebonova, my own video game studio. I specialize in live event production and product management. I’m not sure how or why I’m known, but I always volunteer, which is how I meet so many influencers in Orlando. I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve graduated from Full Sail, not once, but twice, and I’m about to get my third degree. I never saw that coming for me, so I’m grateful that I was able to accomplish a lifelong dream two times over.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Absolutely. I’m 100% a risk taker.
One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken in my life was after my younger brother passed away. I was in a dark place. I felt stuck, and one day, I just decided I needed a complete reset.
So I packed up and moved all the way from Birmingham, Alabama, to Honolulu, Hawaii. I had never been to Hawaii before. I didn’t know anybody there. I didn’t even know what to expect. All I knew was that I had to make a change.
That move ended up being a major turning point in my life. Hawaii is a completely different world. I couldn’t read the road signs there, because they are in Hawaiian. They have a totally different environment, different diet, different everything. So, I had to get acclimated to there, but while I was there, I was able to get military benefits for the first time. I was able to get my own housing.
Before you know it, I lived in Waikiki Beach, right there across the street from the beach. I went from being broke and homeless to making some pretty decent money and even being able to buy exclusive sneakers and stuff. It was a zero-to-hero moment for me, but it was a moment that proved to me that I was able to do things that I didn’t know I was able to do. So, when it came to going to Full Sail, that’s how Full Sail even came into the picture, because I went over there. But because I had been through all those things, I knew when I got here, I’d be capable of doing anything. I’d be able to accomplish my goals while I’m here.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milesbeforemorales/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaidon-white-86b25223b/
