Where I grew up, people are glued to technology because our fast-paced society teaches us to live this way. For example, we can’t go more than a few minutes without checking our emails or texts, and couples eat meals in silence, barely acknowledging each other. In all honesty, it saddens me to see what our generation has come to. Simple morals and family values have been left behind in our race to be successful in the most materialistic ways. The intensity of the high-tech industry, the venture capitalist firms and companies like Apple and Google affect every part of our lives. I still struggle to understand the point of such a fast-paced culture and the overwhelming emphasis on materialistic matters frustrates me. Growing up I thought my classmates and neighbors had their priorities in the wrong order. More than a few times in high school, I considered applying to colleges in rural areas because I needed to get away from the pressures that confined me as I grew up. Choosing Boston in the end was a huge risk for me. but fortunately it hasn’t been all that bad so far, but that’s a story for another time.
The world we live in today makes it seem as if we can’t take a break. Whether it be studying for our next exam, or training for our next sports games, or searching for a more prestigious job, society has a way of constantly propelling us forward. We need to slow down; we need to be more patient. It appalls me to know how many people work themselves to death (in some cases, literally). I am lucky to have parents who understood early on that the solution to the pressures of living our fast-paced world is travel - slowing down from time to time in an entirely foreign place. We traveled whenever school was out and those adventures instilled in me a sense of perspective and appreciation.
Whether you have already caught the travel bug, or would prefer sleeping in your own bed, I think we should all travel more. When I talk about traveling, I don’t mean being a tourist. Instead of briefly stopping by famous landmarks or merely checking items off our bucket lists, we should all learn to be proper travelers. We should immerse ourselves into another culture and dig deep within our souls to find that inner connection. This way, we not only learn about other countries and cultures but also come one step closer to discovering how we fit into this vast world. How are we supposed to coexist if we don’t understand each other? How can we be expected to respectfully resolve conflicts if we are ignorant? We build bridges and form meaningful relationships while abroad. These connections are becoming increasingly important as technology threatens to undermine our innate desire for interdependence and disconnect us.
While many people travel purely for pleasure, I challenge you to be more than a tourist. Take the time to slow down and rejuvenate yourself. Let yourself get lost in the beauty of a foreign country. Our generation needs this more than ever before, and it’s up to us to make a change.
