This is an incredibly important concept. No matter what I do in life, I never really stop learning. My perceptions adapt constantly as I grow, mature, and gain more experiences--even in the span of a year, I feel like I've changed (and I cringe when I think of myself in middle school). Some concepts that seemed rock solid in elementary school don't actually work well in life, so I modify them. I don't think there's anything that should be completely and utterly thrown away--if anything, take it as a sign to do something new or different.
I agree with the idea that more support causes teams to perform better. In band, it’s helpful to have more people in the audience (at least, when they’re showing some common courtesy and respect and not talking during the song, but that’s another issue entirely), because it feels like people are actually interested in our performance. It’s also easier to put on a play when the audience is clearly involved, and the best Hi-Q games are the home ones, where we know that the audience is supporting us. I suppose the same concept applies to sports, although since spectators tend to be louder and closer to the players than anything I’ve participated in, it might also feel more distracting--I suppose that part depends on the player.
One of the worst habits a person can get into is thinking that they can’t do anything to change the world; they’re too young, too busy, too inexperienced…The truth is, there are plenty of stories out there about social entrepreneurs of all ages and circumstances who ignore those limitations and decide to be change makers.
Change makers can be anybody--the people who are willing to creep out of their comfort zone, the ones who start new activities and projects, anybody who strives to improve their community, whether it be a school, a town, or the whole world. Our world needs people who stretch the limits, because that is how our society changes for the better. I’m the type of person who likes to scroll through everything in my feed (not that I necessarily do all the time, thanks to time constraints), so I have no patience for people who clutter it up with offensive or inane posts. Thus, it’s really not so hard for me to unfollow them.
An important thing to note is that bullies, both online and offline, thrive on attention. When you unfollow a person you see being offensive, it sends a message: you don’t tolerate their actions. They aren’t worth listening to. Forward thinking is what causes our society to advance. Look at what forward thinkers have done in pretty much every field, from politics to science to literature. They’ve built worlds and fought for rights and discovered so much about the universe, it’s incredible.
The ability to look beyond what’s in front of us and see what can be instead of what is--in other words, viewing the world in a different light--is an important skill. In fact, it’s probably the greatest skill a person can have. No matter what their future holds, there are going to be problems and obstacles. If a person can use forward thinking to eliminate those problems, they’re going to be very successful in life.
Ask any older person how they’d define the millennial generation, and I guarantee that one of the first things out of their mouths will be social media.
We’re growing up in a world where everything we do, every potentially stupid decision we make, can be saved and remembered forever--not just what we post on our profiles, but what we search, what we send privately to others, and anything else we do online. Your digital footprint affects what college you attend, what job you’re hired for, and (as anybody who’s heard of cyberbullying and suicides can attest to) it can even mean the difference between life and death. Isn’t that a scary thought? It certainly scares me. Unfortunately, the solution to this isn’t to refuse to touch a computer. To potential employers, no digital footprint is just as bad as a negative one--this isn’t a philosophy I agree with, but it’s certainly one that’s out there. However, while the Internet can have a negative impact, it can also be used for positive reasons, and that’s where digital citizenship kicks in. For every person who cyberbullies, there’s also somebody out there who can stand up to it. For every chance to criticize or tear somebody down, there’s also the potential for encouragement and creativity. Social media and the Internet aren’t going away any time soon, so why not make the most of it? |
My thoughts concerning books, school, and everything else.
To see the prompts for the posts in my school journal, visit my teacher's journal blog. AuthorChristina Anderson Archives
April 2016
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