For all its ups and downs, and although I can’t play it like I used to in those first couple of years, I still love Pokémon Go. It’s given me some great times and hopefully there will be more to come.

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I joined discord communities. I stood in circles for raids. My campus held a “Get LadyDestinee Pants” campaign where they would let me stay in gyms so I could get enough coins to buy jeans for my avatar. I studied in the corner of the art library so I could reach a gym to stock up on items. I took the commuter rail to Boston for community days. One time #TeamInstinctBoston hosted a dim sum lunch before the event started.

#PokemonGo #PokemonGo7thAnniversary

I struggled to hold gyms under the first system and caught many Pokémon. The new gym system was announced and I still struggled to get coins. I went abroad for an internship and battled fiercely for my workplace gym, earning me my first gold badge. I went to my first raid, which was a Magikarp.

#PokemonGo #PokemonGo7thAnniversary

Seven (7?!!!!) years ago, I got up bright and early for an internship and danced around the kitchen making lunch while playing the Pokémon theme song. I suffered through the server overloads. I set out on adventures to triangulate Pokémons’ locations through the old footstep indicators. I agonized over which team to join. (#Instinct for the win!)

#PokemonGo #PokemonGo7thAnniversary