Diary of a Tech-aholic

By: Brenda Peralta S7

At a time where teens have never been so hooked to communications technology, the challenge for a large group of BSCR students and teachers to go ‘tech-free’ for the week, was always going to be difficult. One of those committed to the cause was Brenda Peralta of Senior 7. Here is how she remembered those 72 hours of tech-free pain and gain. Thanks again to Mr. Ross for spearheading the charity event.

During the last few days, we did a project named "Tech Free." This project involved having no technology for 72 hours. This meant no cellphones, no computers, no Internet, no Facebook, no Twitter...well overall, anything that would connect you to the world. The task was difficult to plan and harder to still to get through those long hours. Not only was the project meant to create awareness but also raise some money to send half to Camara and the other half to a school in Corcovado.

Day 13th, 14th and 15th:

This entry is set in 3 days since

It’s break time and the crowd begins to come. Mr. Ross is eager for tech free to start and suddenly he starts shouting: “THREE, TWO, ONE…TECH FREE STARTS!”

[Here my days are more or less the same, therefore the days are kept in the same diary entry].

Well, say good-bye to technology for the next couple of days. Good-bye cellphone, good-bye Internet, Twitter, Messenger, Skype…and yes even television. Come on I can make it. I can make…can I? My life depends on technology…I have become so used to having technology in my life. The bell rings and it’s time to go to class. Yay…Information Technology class without technology… ironic. Class actually goes bearably without technology. I actually think I can now make it! The bell rings and it’s time to go home. My usual ritual when I arrive home is now broken for these days. No television when I get home, no texting my boyfriend or my friends when I need to ask them something…when I get home…no technology. Panic start’s running through my veins again…what will I do?!

I usually have the thing of eating with the TV on; however not this time. Eating dinner without any technology is quite soothing. You actually enjoy the meal and focus on the meal. I hadn’t had lunch like that in quite a while.

I’m now at my room staring at the ceiling…what will I do now? This question is repeated in my mind for the next 20 minutes until I suddenly fall asleep. Being without technology made me have naps. I then started thinking on how long it had been since I took a nap…months, years! I woke up and my body felt rested. Heard that quote that says:

“This is IB, you may pick 2 of the following:

1. Good Grades

2. Enough Sleep

3. A Social Life”

Having no technology made my decision easier, but now I could have 2 choices! I could now have enough sleep and do some homework. I realized having no computer or no cellphone made me be more productive. My homework was done days earlier than the due date that and having no TV made me have more time, than I usually have, to read a book.

It’s now 7 o’clock. Night. The usual time I call my boyfriend on Skype and talk to him for a while. Urges suddenly come. The computer is next to me, the cellphone is next to me, and the remote for the TV is next to me. The fact that my Internet has been gone for a couple of days has made my life easier. Nonetheless, the fact that Facebook, Twitter and Messenger are prohibited now makes them more appealing. Never heard of the quote: “You want what you can’t have?” Well, that’s exactly how I felt at that time.

However, the cellphone. The cellphone. I’m now imagining it starts ringing even though it’s off. I stare at it for a while. My hands start to reach the cellphone…I can’t control them. I’m about to fall into temptation but I focus my mind on something else. I grab my book again and start reading. After a while I get bored. I head downstairs and see the kitchen. My cooking instincts start to come again. I know I want to study cooking later on but with school and homework I haven’t had the time to bake something. No technology has actually start to bring benefits. Even though I’ve had some breaking points I manage to get over them and set my mind in something else.

The day is now over and it’s time to go to sleep. Good night.

Day 16th:

Yes!!! Last day of tech free. A few more hours and I can connect to the world again. I want to turn my ipod…but then I remember I can’t use the ipod. Great…but…come one…a few more hours and I’m past those long agonizing days. I hope we are going to get a lot of money to donate.

I get to school and get the cake to Mr. Ross’ office. Come one a few more hours…First class Maths…I can make it I don’t need technology in that class. The fun Maths hour goes by [yeah right] and then literature class. Mrs. Wolff makes my mind forget the fact that I’m not using technology, when we start having a discussion during class. The hour has now gone by. 10 o’clock and now I need to go up to help Mr. Ross on the tech free final hours.

Mr. Ross has set everything for the reconnect. There is music, candy, cake and a lot of posters to make the reconnect…that wonderful time where we can send now messages and get onto messenger. Those 3 days without technology has accumulated the repression of no technology…Mr. Ross starts counting again: “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!!!” YEEES!!! I turn my cellphone on and send the first message I can from the last 3 days. Finally I’ve been wating for this moment.