Head Up by Kaylee

Head Up by Kaylee - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Most people chose a cliché New Year’s resolution at some point in their life. I’m guilty of this, too. Getting in shape, eating healthier, or saving money are some of these cliché but very probable resolutions. There’s nothing wrong with the aforementioned resolutions, but I personally believe they shouldn’t simply be a goal one sets for themselves to work towards in a year; rather, eating cleaner, working out, and managing your money are all skills that may take a lifetime to develop and perfect. Therefore, my New Year’s resolution this year is something I can focus on everyday and feel the impact immediately—using my phone and social media less.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the electronic world now-a-days. I, along with other American citizens, might agree that we live in a very privileged society where the majority of individuals either have a music player, a cellular device, a tablet, a computer, etc. Unfortunately, some individuals can’t afford to have these pieces of technology in their life.
What are these individuals missing? Personally, I feel they aren’t missing much. These people might be missing the latest episode of American Idol, or what’s trending on Twitter. Honestly, I’m envious of these people. I’m jealous that they get to spend quality time with their family without having their noses in their phones, that their mind isn’t swayed by social media, that they can go to bed without having to check Twitter, or that they actually talk to people face-to-face.
It’s come to my attention that too much of my life revolves around my phone, and as a college student, this can be extremely frustrating. As I chose to use my phone less for my 2016 resolution, I couldn’t stop thinking about how my daily life would be different. I won’t live a constantly distracted life. I can drive with my mind at ease, do homework in peace, communicate with others in person instead of over a screen, and I’ll literally be living my life with my head up. It’s so disappointing walking around campus and seeing everyone’s heads down staring at their phone, but now I won’t be one of those individuals.
Think of how much of your life you’ve missed because your head is down and tangled up in another world. With this thought in mind, I’ve been telling myself to put that phone down, and to enjoy college with my head up. Thus far, I’ve found I have a more positive and focused outlook towards school and I’m excited to continue pursuing this resolution.