Jacob Zmecek

AEA’s Own Super Mario

by Natalie Drake

A junior at Albert Einstein Academy, Jacob Zmecek, is a Super Mario super fan. When attending classes in person, Jacob always carries around a Super Mario related plush toy, and a picture of Mario is always on his screen when he is in online classes too.

The world of Mario is a unique one. It’s full of dancing turtles, coins, green pipes, power-ups, evil bosses, princesses, and so much more. As our current world in 2020 is crumbling right before our eyes, Jacob Zmecek likes to think simpler and turn to the world of Mario to help him cope with what’s happening around him.

2020 has brought many challenges. There have been several large fires, a global pandemic, murder hornets, and a divided political nation. None of these problems exist in the world of Mario. What makes Mario unique is limited levels and worlds and infinite recipes for how you can play. Some people can choose to play as Mario and ride Yoshi to victory, while others can choose to play as a turtle and zoom in a racecar on a rainbow road. The game has been around for five years now, and Jacob has played countless hours of it.

Mario has many unique objects and characters within the game. Jacob would bring some elements from the game to life if he could.

“I would have to say a power-up, but I’m not sure which one,” Zmecek said.

Although power-ups could help us solve most of our problems in 2020, the one thing it probably wouldn’t help with is the coronavirus pandemic.

If he could target one part of 2020 and make it disappear it would “definitely [be] the coronavirus.”

Covid-19 has made us spend a lot of time indoors and away from friends. Although he does not get to have a lot of time with friends anymore, he would still like to do classes online. Online classes allow Jacob to do the things he enjoys more often. Jacob isn’t a big fan of school classes, but he enjoys lunch and study hall.

With 2021 right around the corner, a new year brings 365 days of opportunities.

“I sure hope the new year brings fun, excitement, and the ability to get out of the house more,” he said.

While Jacob isn’t an Italian plumber with a brother named Luigi, he is still a creative individual who enjoys adventure.