In our current situation, all non-essential stores, schools, and businesses have been forced to close. We personally have been quarantined into our homes being asked to stay indoors as much as possible. Through all of this the one tool that has literally saved our entire livelihood has been technology. With technology being the most sought after and constantly improved tool for humanity, in times of crisis it’s full potential can be revealed.

One of the largest contributions of technology has been the continuation of education. If every student had suddenly missed out on an entire year of school, there would be very serious repercussions, especially for those in high school. There would be a one year gap in all academic school records that are crucial for colleges and leading students to their future lives.

Technology has been able to provide things such as Zoom, in order to meet with teachers and peers for lessons and help, and Google Classroom, in order for us students to receive assignments, homework, and tests. Sophomore student from Sunny Hills, Daniel Kong says that, “technology has been a big help, especially for educational use. Since school has been canceled for the rest of the year, we’re taking advantage of our resources and making do with what we have.” We can continue to build up the youth’s education while eliminating almost all major repercussions.

Another one of technology’s major contributions to these times is the spreading of information. In this day and age everyone has access to the internet, even those who are less fortunate. This means that any information can instantly be sent out to basically everyone in the entire world regarding the virus. 10th grade student Chris Choi from Orange Lutheran agrees and says that, “I think technology helped the current situation to not become worse because without technology not everyone will know this situation and the outbreak could’ve been worse.” News about where the virus has been, who is infected, new laws and regulations, the best methods to stay safe, and so much is available to the public.

This information literally saves lives. Without our quick paced world, a quarantine would have taken so much longer to be established resulting in an even more drastic exponential infected and death rates.

We are so fortunate to have technology guide us through these times and literally keep us alive. There are many additional uses such as buying products (even food), keeping businesses up and running, letting us stay social, and much more.

Other major pandemics in the past such as the Black Plague definitely could have been reduced exponentially. Our lives as humans are much different than even less than a hundred years ago. However, this reliance on technology is not a bad thing at all because it saves lives and satisfies our basic human urge to stay social even in times when it seems impossible. I think we all owe technology and it’s contributors a big pat on the back.

<Ryan Lee/ Sunny Hills High School 10th Grade>