I remember when I received my first cell phone. The year was 2005, and the phone was a Nokia 3120. It was silver and white, with the buttons and screen uncovered for quick access. I begged my mother for a phone, any type of phone. Granted, it was not a Motorola RAZR as I had yearned for, but it was a phone nonetheless. I could still text, call, and feel ever so adult. I would call my friends after school, and giggle with boys until 3 in the morning. Of course, I’d have my phone taken away a handful of times for my excessive chit chatting.

I can still recall taking computer and typing classes in elementary school, and using a landline to call my friends, but before long iPhones, Facebook and MySpace took over my social life. I didn’t need to introduce myself to anyone; I knew who they were on Facebook or MySpace.

Besides a cell phone, I had another line of communication: the Internet. Before MySpace or Facebook, I had my fair share of message boards and IM programs; most of my exchanges were with strangers. Middle school was one of those time periods where life was incredibly lonely despite the multitude of communication avenues. Of course, it was also a time of change in my body and in my attitude.

I was emotionally isolated at my small, Catholic school. I had seen and shared classes with the same people for ten years. By the end of eighth grade, I was completely bored. Many of my classmates were also wrapped up in their own issues, and would do asinine things like take favorite portions of my lunch (Chips Ahoy! I’m looking at you), and ridicule me in class. Suddenly, my ten year friendships began crashing down as different interests took over.

The summer before high school, I posted my feelings and thoughts about a few people from that small Catholic high school on The Grotto, one of my favorite message boards. The website was easily accessible by the URL on my Yahoo! Messenger account. Someone who I thought was my best friend clicked on the URL and did not have a problem letting everyone know how I really felt about them. Parents were called, friendships shifted, and I was about to start high school completely alone.

All of high school was spent taking the perfect profile picture, or having the appropriate song for my profile. Currently, I don’t have a Facebook. I’ve gone through periods where it just becomes boring. Luckily, I am able to recall a time before my cell phone. Car trips, recess, and elementary school was carefree; there was no message board or ‘top 8’ for friends. I know this next generation, including babies and toddlers, will only know a life with iPads and Candy Crush. I’m happy I can look back at my childhood without technology; I’m also happy I have come to a point where I can resist the latest phone or website and actually introduce myself to someone new.

By Jackie Calvert

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