On Your Own in the Year 2038 by Marco

On Your Own in the Year 2038 by Marco - February 2018 Scholarship Essay

As technology advances at breath taking speed, I foresee a not too distant future where students will no longer be sitting in the classroom. Where the bonds that are formed from being in class together will dissolve. It may be more efficient to connect online rather than travel to a physical site, but our humanity may suffer because of it.
Currently there are programs that can be completed online without ever entering a classroom. It would then be logical that in 20 years most education will be conducted in an interactive online manner. We will find ourselves sitting at home learning about algebra and world history while staring at a screen that will provide us with a front row seat to the instructor’s fountain of knowledge. The instructor in turn will have no need to travel to a campus or office and will also be able to impart lessons from the comfort of their home. Questions may be submitted with key strokes rather than round table discussions. Conversing before and after class will be relegated to the past.
I'm not too sure I will prefer this type of learning experience as it does not allow for the physical interaction which goes along with being in class together. Dialogue is much more spontaneous when there is a classroom setting, when you can just break in to the conversation as the thought is formed your mind. Friendships are established when individuals coexist in the same space having been brought together by similar interests. The ability to socialize, which most individuals acquire by attending school will have to be attained in some other fashion.
What will happen to all those school campuses which will be devoid of life as the dorms and cafeterias shut down? There will no longer be a need for the services they provide. Other uses will have to be found for buildings which will stand vacant and quiet. In this setting convenience will trump socializing. We will become a people less connected to each other, willing to do it all on our own.
It is not very appealing to think of everyone out there on their own, but since we have not arrived at this situation as of yet, I must stop here and head out for the class I have in 10 minutes on the other side of campus. If I run, I should be able to make it on time. I hope my friend saves me a seat.