Grumpy, I'm really glad you gave such words of encouragement. I couldn't agree more. So, I would like to use my good friend Mid's art as an example.
https://bluesunbeam1.deviantart.com/gallery/43075908/2011 (2011 by bluesunbeam1 on DeviantArt)
This is her folder from 2011. Some of her art uses bases, but she was still brave enough to post what wasn't. Now, I would like to show you her current art. (The comic has been part of an art trade between her and a friend.)
https://bluesunbeam1.deviantart.com/gallery/62786834/2017 (2017 by bluesunbeam1 on DeviantArt)
This girl has made tremendous leaps; the improvement was only possible from years of practice and effort. The thing is though, to learn and improve as an artist, it doesn't require you post anything. The only reason some post their art is that it is an expression of one's self. I couldn't be prouder of my friend.
For Joel's sake, by the way (now that I'm off my soapbox) Rosid will probably be using a combination of Heal Pulse and Aromatherapy to calm him down and try and bring him back to consciousness. No actual medication or anything; just moves.
Now, concerning gyms, yup! Gym challenges certainly still exist. The Pokémon League challenge is the typical sporting event as far as battles are concerned. (This applies for the trials in Alola as well.) There are other challenges as well, such as the Battle Frontier in Hoenn and the Pokémon World Tournament in Unova. The fun thing about these though is... well, do you guys know who the Harlem Globetrotters are? They pull pranks during basketball games and such. There are silly teams that compete and host events to raise hype for the tournaments in competitions like the PWT. The tournament akin to the WWE (staged battles) would be the Battle Royal in Alola. It's televised, and a new, super popular thing for tourists to attend, but Battle Royals are mostly native to Alola. Other regions are starting to build their own facilities for Battle Royals, but not a single one has exactly completed construction yet. (Perhaps famous Battle Royal champions will go on tour once they do!)
Now, this part is more specific to our school's curriculum: like others before Capelle's School was constructed, you do not have to be in House Ignite to challenge any gym, nor do you have to challenge the gyms in any order. Gyms are all relatively the same as far as difficulty goes, each with different strategies for battling. However, Ignite's purpose is to equip students for any form of battling they choose, and most certainly WILL put an emphasis on teaching battle styles, other tournaments, and most importantly, teaching about the individual gyms located across Sinnoh. Gyms have six Pokémon that you have to fight back to back (almost Elite Four style.) At the Elite Four, you have to defeat FOUR teams of six and the Champion's team of six. The true gym leader/elite/champ will be the last of the six you fight. This style makes it as similar to the games as possible without humans, and, in my opinion, makes the battles more worthy of the title "gym challenge."
Enjoy my PSA.