Technology can connect people instantly, but authentic connection still takes intention. In a world filled with constant notifications, short videos, and online interactions, it has become easy to confuse communication with real connection. I believe the future of human connection depends on how intentionally we use technology, not as a replacement for relationships, but as a tool to strengthen them. As a sophomore at Duquesne University majoring in Digital Media Arts, I think often about the role technology plays in the way people interact. Social media and digital platforms can sometimes make relationships feel distant or performative, but they also have the ability to bring people together in meaningful ways. The difference comes from the purpose behind how technology is used. When people use media to encourage others, share authentic experiences, and create spaces where individuals feel included, technology becomes something far more powerful than entertainment. It becomes a way to build community. I have seen this through hockey, one of the biggest influences in my life. As both a player and referee, I have experienced how connection is built through trust, communication, and shared experiences. Some of those connections happen in person on the ice, while others continue through group chats, team media, livestreams, and online communities that keep people connected long after a game ends. Technology helps athletes, families, and fans stay involved and support one another even when they are physically apart. However, the relationships themselves are still built through genuine encouragement, teamwork, and respect. Technology may help maintain connection, but people are the reason those connections matter. Living with cerebral palsy has also shaped the way I think about authentic human connection. Growing up, there were moments when I felt different from others around me, which made inclusion and representation especially meaningful. Because of that, I believe technology has the ability to create stronger communities by helping people feel seen and understood. Online spaces can connect individuals who may otherwise feel isolated and remind them that they are not alone in their experiences. Seeing people with disabilities represented in sports, media, and leadership roles can inspire confidence and create a stronger sense of belonging for others facing similar challenges. At the same time, I believe preserving authentic human connection requires balance. Technology should never completely replace face-to-face interaction, meaningful conversations, or shared experiences in the real world. Some of the most important moments in life cannot be recreated through a screen, whether it is celebrating a win with teammates, encouraging someone during a difficult moment, or simply spending time with people who care about you. As technology continues to evolve, preserving those moments will become even more important. In the future, I hope to use my career in sports media and digital design to create content that brings people together rather than divides them. I want to create media that helps people feel included, represented, and connected to something bigger than themselves. I believe authentic human connection will always depend on empathy, presence, and the willingness to truly understand other people. Technology may continue to change how we communicate, but it should never change why human connection matters in the first place.

Have you ever seen a baby bird that has fallen from its nest? That is how my mother described my twin sister and me on the day that we were born. Each of us weighed less than two pounds. Our eyes were still fused shut. A ventilator helped us to breathe as our lungs were not fully developed. Tiny wired stickers covered our chest, feet, wrists, arms, and legs in order to monitor our blood pressure, breathing rates, and oxygen levels. My parents were taken to a quiet room and given the grim statistics. At the time of our birth, the survival rate was about 50 percent. Charts and diagrams that were shown explained that even if we did survive, we faced a high risk of mental and physical disabilities. The only thing my parents could do was watch, wait, and pray. After 17 days of fighting to stay alive, my sister passed away. After 125 days in the neonatal intensive care unit, I finally made it home. Some may read this and see it as a tragedy. I prefer to adopt the thoughts of Albert Einstein who was born two months premature and was quoted as saying “There are only two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” My premature birth has been the source of many obstacles and challenges that I have had to overcome throughout my life. When I was just three years old, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination. Simple tasks requiring balance and agility were a struggle, and keeping up with my peers seemed impossible. I was determined to play sports just like any other kid, but I faced many barriers due to my physical limitations. I wasn't strong enough for T-ball, couldn't balance enough for soccer, and basketball was out of the question. Eventually, I discovered ice hockey, a game that required strength, balance, and coordination, but also allowed for gliding on the ice, which helped me compensate for some of my physical limitations. I finally felt like I had found a sport that fit me. When I turned 14, I was thrilled to join a travel team with my closest friends, and it was an incredible season filled with magical moments. However, the following year, I noticed that all the other kids had grown taller and stronger, leaving me at a disadvantage. Although the odds were against me, I remained determined to make the team. Regrettably, I was cut, not only that year but the year after as well. Despite being cut from the team not once, but twice, I refused to give up on my dream. I devoted myself to training harder than ever before, spending countless hours in the gym and on the ice. Eventually, my determination paid off when I received the news that I had finally made it. I can honestly say that there is no one on the ice who is more grateful or happy to be there than I am. Like Michael Mattera Jr., I have faced challenges and pushed through to pursue my education. Despite the many challenges that I have faced as a result of my premature birth, I have learned to be resilient and persistent. My experiences have taught me the importance of perseverance and have inspired me to pursue my goals despite the obstacles that I may encounter, including obtaining a degree in graphic design. I think Albert Einstein had it right. Do you believe in miracles?