The day I met Mrs. Coleman was the day the changed my life forever. It was the first day of school of my Sophomore year. Another hot August day in Georgia to be spent all day indoors with all the classmates I had missed over the summer. I had seen familiar and unfamiliar faces all day as I traveled from different classrooms, exploring different hallways, trying to navigate my way into new classes. While I was unable to choose some of my classes, that year, I decided to try a new elective; Audio/Video Technology and Film. I didn't know who taught it or if any of my friends were taking the class or let alone what the class entailed. All I knew is that it was where I needed to be. All day I waited in anticipation for my last class of the day. As I made my way into the classroom, I was surprised to see so many resources for Film that I had never encountered in my school. I was greeted by a friendly group of students and sat with two students; Peter and Joshua. Little did I know how that decision would change my life. As class begun, my teacher, Mrs. Coleman, asked us to go around the classroom and introduce ourselves and why we had enrolled in the class. The look of disappointment on my teachers face grew as one after another, students made jokes and showed no interest for the class. When it was my turn, I expressed the reason I joined the class was for my interest in Film and my passion to pursue it and from the moment on, Mrs. Coleman and I had a tight bond. Through the school year I worked hard on various projects, offering help and time with Mrs. Coleman. Impressed by my leadership skills, she asked me to become an officer of the club she hosted; SkillsUSA. Excited for the opportunity, I invited my fellow students to join; Peter and Joshua. Through this club and Mrs. Coleman, I had opportunities and made memories I would have never dreamt to make in high school. Mrs. Coleman constantly encouraged me to compete in various competitions in the club and I had success as I placed top three at every competition. Eventually, I became the president of the club and worked along side Mrs. Coleman, Peter, and Joshua attending leadership conferences, competitions, planning fundraisers, and community service projects. I was constantly encouraged to spread my wings as a leader and practice my hand at accountability, responsibility, and service. Mrs. Coleman continued to be a comforting teacher to me as I always felt comfortable coming to her with any problems or situations I had ran into. Her actions of encouragement and support helped me decide to study the passion she helped nourish; film. In my higher education journey, I plan on majoring in Film Production at Columbus State University and hope to one day be a "Mrs. Coleman" to a young student who needs the push of determination. I hope to make her proud one day with what I accomplish!

When I think about my experience with smartphones, I am often reminded of the many literary works of George Orwell. The dystopian author often expressed concern for the human race on the reliance on technology and how it can be abused if taken too far. While I regard my smartphone to be a positive thing, on the same coin, it can also be a negative thing. I love to talk to my friends, see the latest trends on apps such as "Tik Tok" , listen to my favorite artists, etc. However, this can become an addiction as I find myself never without my phone, constantly checking my screen. I can often spend hours scrolling through videos or messaging friends. This type of technology addiction can make it extremely dangerous when participating in jeopardizing activities such as driving. Driving is one of the most dangerous activities that we participate in daily. Every time we enter the car, we put our lives not only in the hands of ourselves but also into the hands of strangers on the road. Cellphones lead to at least 1.6 million crashes each year. This number is a direct representation of the abuse of technology George Orwell once wrote about. By even looking down at our smartphones for one second, we increase the chances of an automobile accident. Missed stop signs, illegal turns, and speeding can all e directly affected by cell phone use while driving. Personally, this is a topic that hits close to home as recently, I participated in a video contest in which we were to demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving. A few short months later, two members of my high school were killed in an automobile accident due to the dangers of distracted driving. The two young men involved in the accident were active members of various organizations in my school and I had the privilege to know one who was in the school band. The deaths of these young lives left a scar on my community as no one ever expected such a thing to occur. To see we were shaken was an understatement. While it is extremely unfortunate that these two young men died, it opened the conversation about distracted driving and acting responsibly behind the wheel. No more than two months later, a dear family friend was involved in a serious accident when a car ran a stoplight, as the opposite driver was distracted by their phone. Currently, the victim of the crash is still recovering from serious injuries such as broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a fractured skull. Knowing that both these crashes could have been avoided if a cellphone was not in use is painful as irreversible damage could have been prevented. No text or call is more important than one's lifetime. With the click of one button, it can all be taken away in the blink of an eye.