BS/BA is mandatory.

It seems almost regular to hear someone say that "you do not need a college degree", but frankly and honestly based on the advancements that we have seen these past few decades in America- a Bachelors degree is  mandatory.

We are in an era where the main focus seems to be the advancements of technology and the job force is molding to become a system in which it will not take anything subpar. With the increased competition in careers, employers look for one thing that can offset a candidate from the rest automatically. That is education.

Whether it may be Computer Science, Business, Nursing, History, Liberal Arts; It is critical to understand that a Bachelors degree is the best option to maintain a steady and comfortable lifestyle. Automatically, you will be eligible to work at the state. You can work at any company for any admin, marketing, consumer affairs position. You can even further your education by 2 years and achieve a masters degree and add two more years on top of that and receive a PhD. That is a small portion of life that you must invest. 4-10 years of schooling is worth the lifestyle you wish to pass on to your own children.

Control over the use of Technology, be advanced but be responsible.

Have control over the use of Technology; be advanced but be responsible. 
-Article written by Selah Terwilliger

The technology in the current generation is in a continuous growth. It has come to a point where people have started relying on a handheld device to assist with everyday tasks. Some may even find it difficult and impossible to run day to day errands without the help of these gadgets. Some careers cannot even run without the use of the technology that is available today. From the first technology growth during the 1990’s, the growth seems to be consistent and seems to ascend exponentially (Berliner)(Barton). Though this can be good for the everyday lifestyle of all Americans, it becomes the root of laziness and increased dependency on technology; therefore, molding people to be less self-reliant and can potentially leave them vulnerable.

From the morning alarm clock, to a midday to-do note reminder, and the nightly email alerts; smart phones and tablets have become the best friend of the people in the 21^st century. According to Ryan Barton, President of Mainstay technology, “[Current] Technology’s exponential growth rate means we are now accomplishing in one year what took centuries in Ancient Century”(Barton). He further explains how the small communication device that is presently called the “smartphone” is a better communication tool for the president than what he would typically use to reach the mass public just twenty-five years ago. Barton also explains how the president has more access to any database he may need now compared to what was the typical tool just ten years ago (Barton). All databases can easily be accessed through a simple search. This may be efficient, but what if a certain individual were the reason of that search? What if everything that one may do is recorded on a digital device and posted somewhere that can easily be found? As Nora Campos explains in an article in Mercury News, she explained how to welcome new technology with open arms but also need to approach it with caution and with “necessary safeguards to our privacy”. Campos spoke about the new technology called Google Glasses, where people wore them in order to video record or take pictures without many people noticing. She explains how Congress fears that Google needs to write more policies regarding privacy protection in order to guide new users of this technology with future privacy concerns (Campos). She continues by stating, “In an era of drones and NSA eavesdropping, not to mention identity thefts and data breaches, people are understandably wary about where all this is head”, Campos explains how it is now currently understood by most on where these new innovations with technology will eventually bring this society to(Campos). With the exponential growth of technology, this will soon bring situations that may breach the already little privacy that Americans have.

A study presented by New York Times stated that the average kid within the age range from 8 to 18 spends 7 and a half hours a day or more using different devices such as television, IPod, internet and video games (psu.edu-Lewis). According to Penn State, these statistical data is a sign of where the society is heading to. Penn State University also points out that there is a positive correlation with hours that children spend with technology and failing grades, obesity, and impatience (psu.edu).

A study done in 2004 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, states that sixteen percent of children in the age range of six to nineteen years of age are obese (psu.edu/cdc.gov). They concluded that the number of obese children has tripled since the year nineteen-eighty. They concluded that the increased number of these children whom are overweight is due to the increased amount of electronic or technology use. After television and video games were introduced, more and more children chose to sit at home instead of being active causing this direct correlation with technology and obesity.

Dr. Rosen, a professor at a California State University, performed a study that illustrated that teenagers from ages sixteen to eighteen years old typically performs seven tasks as once. A teen can be watching television, texting, listening to music, chatting on Facebook, while doing their homework. Dr. Rosen claims that this is why many children have trouble focusing on their schoolwork. It is usually because their attention is typically divided into multiple activities. Vickey Rideout, vice president of The Kaiser Foundation states, “I worry that young people won’t be able to summon the capacity to focus and concentrate when they need to,” explaining her concerns for the young people of this generation (psu.edu/abcnews).

New York Times wrote an article discussing how kids have very little patience for anything that is not instantaneous. Children in this era expect answers almost immediately and expect these answers handed to them. This generations youths rely on the internet as guidance as well as a solution to any situation they may encounter (psu.edu). The over reliance on technology such as so, can promote impatience and violence through anxiety not only with youths, but also to adults that allow technology to be the main focal point of their life. Simple things such as frustration over the dysfunction of the internet or trouble with the email provider going under-maintenance should not cease the norm.

Technology has helped Americans figure out the world in an easier way. The electronic world have calculators that understand equations in a shorter period of time where otherwise, it would take several hours to compute. The programs that are available for computers allow many professions such as architects, to be able to handle all work with their laptop. For those professions it can be helpful and efficient, but it is arguable that this practice may eventually lead to vulnerability. The loss of skill can occur and impatience may develop because most tend to experience laziness after being exposed to a program that can do it all for them. Handheld devices allow many to send messages in a single click rather than waiting a few days for the mail man to come around. This may be easy, but many may protest that it promotes laziness among the upcoming generation. There are positive things that technology has done for the general public and it is ok to take full advantage of the artificial intelligence that the human race has put together, but the over reliance should not happen. As responsible citizens, it is necessary to understand the responsibility that comes with technology. Just like everything else, too much of something will have consequences. In this case, the practice of using technology only when necessary and in moderation is a needed call to action. With this, Americans will benefit from the best and newest technology but will also be able to take control of it and not let allow electronics and technology to affect the proper way of life.

Work Cited

Barton, Ryan. "Technology's Explosion: The exponential growth rate - Mainstay Technologies." IT Services & Support Company in NH, Network, Computer & Technical Management - Mainstay Technologies. Mainstay Technology, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.mstech.com/nh-it-blog.php?show=171>.

Berliner, Uri. "Back To The Economy Of The '90s? Not So Fast : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. National Public Radio, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.npr.org/2012/12/25/167970805/back-to-the-economy-of-the-90s-not-so-fast>.

Campos, Nora. "Privacy: Google Glass and other technology bring new concern." San Jose Mercury News: Opinion. The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 9 Oct. 2013. <www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_23853319/privacy-google-glasses-and-other-technology-bring-new>.

Negative Effects of Technology on Children." Negative Effects of Technology on Children. Penn State University, 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.

"The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/weekinreview/10stone.html?scp=1&sq=technology%20children&st=cse.

"If Your Kids Are Awake, Theyre Probably Online - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html?scp=3&sq=tv%20obesity&st=cse.

"Kids and Electronics: New Study Shows Kids Spend More Than 7 Hours a Day With Electronics - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Politics, Online News, World News, Feature Stories, Celebrity Interviews and More - ABC News. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/kids-electronics-study-shows-kids-spend-hours-day/story?id=9616699.

"Kids Eat Hefty Number of Calories While Watching TV." Stanford News. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2004/july7/med-tv-obesity-77.html.

"NACHRI & N.A.C.H. | Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts." NACHRI & N.A.C.H. | HOME. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.childrenshospitals.net/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Site_Map3&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=49561.

"Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Childhood | DNPAO | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html.

"Television." California State University, Northridge. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html.