Technology has been something I always felt confident using as I grew up.
I was the first person in my elementary school class to get a phone, and always had the latest technology.
It wasn't until when I started at a new private high school that having the latest and greatest technology no longer existed.
My brand new desktop computer wasn't the latest and greatest compared to my peers in my new school. They all had fancy new laptops and I just did not fit in.
What made everything worse was that I lived over an hour away from school. For me that meant hanging out with my friends did not happen often. And while everyone texted to keep in contact, the main way my peers communicated outside of school was using web cameras at night using Skype.
Weeks went by without being included as I did not have a web camera. I felt like I did not fit in at my new school as I never knew what anyone was talking about. My friends would talk about what was happen the night before and I would sit there thinking I just want to fit in. I have to get a web camera.
I decided It was time to get a web camera. "Hey Mom, I was wondering if we could go to Best Buy this weekend?" I asked her one night at dinner. "To do what?" She said a bit confused as i never wanted to go there. "Well all the kids at school use web cameras to hang out at night and I feel left out and want to be able to hang out too." "I am sorry you feel left out honey but absolutely not. I don't like the idea of strangers being able to see into our home through a camera. There is always someone watching."
I knew I had to get one of these fancy web cameras one way or another so I took matters into my own hands. I started babysitting every chance I had for different families in my neighborhood. I knew if I could save enough money I could get a web camera without my mom knowing.
After some research on the price of web cameras I knew I had enough money. I decided it was time to ask my sister to take me. She loved shopping and never had any problem taking me with her. "Hey Tiff I was wondering if you could take me with you to the mall today?" I asked her as she was getting ready to go out. "Yeah you can come with me. Anything in particular you want to get?" "Well actually I was wondering if we could stop at Best Buy, I just want to look around." "That's fine but go get ready we are leaving in five." I hurried to go get my money and get on my shoes. I knew today would be the day!
As we walked into the store I ran off to computer accessories. Sitting right there on the shelf was exactly what I needed and I had to have it. I grabbed to camera and headed to checkout. My sister being oblivious to the world didn't notice I had just bought a web camera and it was better that way. After leaving the store we headed home and I was so excited to set this thing up.
After a few hours of setting everything up I texted my friend to let her know I had finally got a web camera and we could skype tonight. I sat there for hours staring at the screen waiting for her to come online. After many hours of waiting it happened. She was online and ready to chat.
Finally I felt like I fit in at my new school and could be apart of the culture of the school. From that moment forward I knew this was the best school ever and I Skypeed with my friends all the time.