Self-Preservation Regarding Personal Education and Technology by Dakota

Self-Preservation Regarding Personal Education and Technology by Dakota - September 2018 Scholarship Essay

2043 is 25 years away. In September 1st, 2043, I will be 42 years old. The day will be Tuesday. According to Moore’s Law regarding technology, the capability of technology doubles every two years. Learning opportunities will be immense. I will see myself continuing to learn if I adapt with technology, continually learn from 2018 to 2043, and further my passion for education.

Technology is advancing faster than we are evolving. Tablets and smartphones offer so much information and stimulus that children suffer from technological addiction, facing withdrawals upon their parents’ retraction of personal devices. If the user fails to utilize technology for the advancement of their education, they may end up like these addicted teens. Using digital devices with access to the internet purely for entertainment means like Facebook, Netflix, and Spotify does not create healthy learning initiatives for the future. Behaviors persevere only when placed in practice. There is a vast vault of information stored on the internet, and plenty of instruction in how to process and procure the digital data. Unfortunately, many do not have the drive or guidance to take the opportunity for digital education upon themselves.

As a high school senior, many of my colleagues are remarking how they await the completion of their education. They maintain the belief that learning ends when school ends. Even those going to a 4-year university anticipate the completion of college. Institutionalized education ends when college and high school end. After graduation, the burden of teaching is transferred from teacher to student. Suddenly, the ultimate proprietor of personal destiny is self. A bird learns to fly by falling from the nest, not riding the back of its mother. To continue the process of learning, you must become the teacher and student. Being aware of this newfound personal authority is the first step in utilization. The second step is commitment. Self-teaching is a daily duty. There are thousands of free resources for education on the internet, such as Wikipedia, Khan Academy, edsitement.neh.gov, Smithsonian, and so forth. Many simply lack an interest to learn. If I were to continue my education in the next 25 years, I would need to identify my need for education, acquire the resources online, and commit to learning daily.
I plan to have a career in education. I will attend Western Carolina University for four years to earn a degree in elementary education. After 5 years of teaching in an elementary school, I will return to college to earn my doctorate and become a college professor in the education department. I see myself continuing to learn through institutionalized study and personal education. About 8 years of college is required to attain a doctoral certification from a university. After completing my assigned schooling, it will be necessary to have the most up-to-date information regarding my field. Learning will encompass my professional and casual life.

My pursuit of self-preservation in education through proper and continued use of technology is vital to my career and personal life. The advancement of technology is an open gate for learning opportunities. It will be important to preserve a passion for education in the next 25 years through my 8 years of college and 17 years of teaching experience. The ability to learn is necessary for success in the education field and in the totality of life.