For as long as I can remember, I have always had a strong interest in technology. We all loved to watch T.V whenever our parents allowed it, but I knew that my interests were different from other children, as I seemed to be the only one that wanted to take the T.V apart. Whenever a stereo would jam or a CD player would skip, I wanted to open it up and fix it. At first my parents were very much opposed my urge to (as they would say) “destroy” the devices. I had to be sure that I was behind closed doors while attempting to fix the first few things. Luckily I had a little sister that agreed to take the role of watchman as I dabbled around with these electronics. But after my parents saw that I could actually repair the items, they seemed to be less disapproving. Their hesitation completely disappeared after what I would still to this day call my greatest repair ever.
At the age of 11, I successful rewired a pair of built in speakers that were on my television. Everyone in my house was in complete shock when I turned the T.V on and sound came out. I will admit, I had no idea what I was doing, but I problem solved and figured it out. My past exposure to the inside of other electronics worked to my benefit, as I referred to them as a model and was able to think back to what the television speakers should look like in order to function properly. After my success with the television, my parents deemed me the role of “household repairman”. I loved this moment, as it was the moment I was granted permission to explore with no restrictions! Just the thing I had been waiting for!
As I got older my interests began to switch more towards computers. This was partly due to the fact that the Internet generation was coming upon us and because computers were becoming all the hype both at school and at home. Through the use of my computer, I was able to develop typing skills, web surfing skills and communication skills. I learned how to use this form of technology as a means of supporting my own intellect and abilities.
To this day I still love anything that has to do with technology. I love getting new gadgets and gizmos, and discovering what they can do. I still take things apart and attempt to fix them on my own. My early experiences have helped me see the importance of educating young children in technology. I do not believe it will hinder their education; when used properly it can add enrichment to their educational experiences. With its constant advancements and changes, we need to keep ourselves educated and informed so that this fear of technology comes to an end. Technology should not be seen as a threat; it should be seen as a support.
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