The role technology plays in modern day life is so prominent and cannot be ignored. Some people choose to feed into its importance, while others choose to attempt ignoring it. Those who try to ignore electronics and technology may have the right idea in that sometimes, you really need to put the phone down and look around. Take a step back from the social media, the TV shows, and the stress-related work to really smell the roses. I can absolutely agree with anyone who wants to enjoy life out from behind a screen. Sometimes, electronics can get in the way of important events. We spend a lot of time with our eyes glued to some type of screen, rather than looking at life and soaking in all of it. Technological advancements have made it almost impossible to live without a cellular device, some sort of social media platform, or any application at our fingertips. Instead of taking the time to learn something, people just use Google for information (true or false).

However, I also believe wholeheartedly that technology has plenty of benefits. One major and obvious example is the technological advancements made in medicine and the scientific field, which have only improved since as early as the 1200s (A.D). Internationally, we are incredibly close to finding cures for all types of diseases and illnesses, terminal or not. Not only have doctors and researchers discovered more possible treatments for these ailments, but they have also looked more into potential causes and probable preventative actions for them. This has impacted daily living for many, and can also push families with genetic diseases to be screened earlier in life. The earlier any disease is caught, the easier it is to take action.

A less obvious and more personal reason that technology is so important is communication and documentation. When I was younger, my parents didn’t own a video camera. My friends all have home videos from when they were infants and toddlers, but my family never thought to make any. I’m slightly jealous of those with videos of themselves as children due to the overwhelming nostalgia families get and over which they can bond. I recently purchased a GoPro Hero4 Silver so I have the opportunity to document more of my life. I will be a senior in high school this coming fall, and everyone older than me always tells me how surreal the experience is. I don't want to miss a single moment of this year, and I have never been more excited about a project. I will be able to watch and look back on the entire year in the near and distant future. Communication is a big part of modern day technology as well. One of my absolute best friends in the entire world lives approximately six hundred miles away from me. We met at a church camp in Gambier, Ohio. Without the opportunity to connect with her year-round, I would not be nearly as close with her as I am. I can keep in contact with other friends from camp, friends that have moved away, and family that lives further away. Communication and documentation impact our lives more than we realize, medicine influences everyday life, and technology overall affects us more than we would like to believe.