The World Outside My Window
by Kathleen Flores YY12
Introduction
Who knew the world outside my window can affect my life in ways unbeknownst to me?
This was my thought when I learned about the world outside my house. This includes the various countries outside the Philippines and their cultures. I learned all this, not only in school, but also in my network of friends I met online. The world is so vast, yet I am so little. Despite all that, the events that happen in the world, no matter how big or small it is, can greatly influence the lives of many people such as mine.. I will share stories on how some world events changed my life and will continue to do so in the future.
World Events that Affected My Life
The Internet
The Internet has already been around even before I was born. However, it only boomed around the 1990s, even though it began as a scientific project on the last year of the 1960’s (Lee, 2014). I can’t imagine myself not using it in this day and age. My family was already using this even before I was born. They taught me how to use and manipulate it. I watched videos and played games there as I grew up. This interconnection of computer networks seems so complicated, yet it is so easy to use. The Internet is used as a means of communication with each other, no matter how far the distance. This has become everyone’s platform in getting information on someone or something, just by clicking the mouse. Not only has it greatly impacted my life and childhood, it also changed the lives of everyone using it. I learned to depend on the internet, so much that it is unimaginable for me not using it.
Reference:
Lee, T. (2014). The internet, explained. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://www.vox.com/2014/6/16/18076282/the-internet
Video Games
Before I was born, who would have thought that video games would affect my life a lot? My siblings, mom, and uncle were playing a kind of video game before I even came into being. Looking at the video game’s evolution, it can be said that it slowly progressed itself until it caught everyone’s attention. Today’s entertainment industry in regards to this is enormous. It’s market sales and customers are so many that everyone knows what it is or they are playing it. I played video games growing up and being influenced by my family. I met a lot of people from playing various games, who later became my friends. Video games gave me memorable experiences and relationships that I could have never gotten in real life since I am a shy girl. It also benefitted me since it improved my social and problem-solving skills, as well as enhanced my memory and thought process.
9/11 Attack
The 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001 is a very memorable event. It sent everyone into a state of shock since no one expected such a thing to happen. The impact of this terrorist attack extended to the whole world, and various countries sympathized with them. Although this crisis installed fear and pain to most people, especially to the Americans, it also brought a change of heart in families and their ways on treating its members. Families started appreciating each other and they spend time with one another more than ever. Patriotism increased in America and for awhile, cultural diversity joined hands to pray for the people affected in the incident.
Legalization of Same-sex Marriage
Same-sex marriage has been an issue for a long time. However, I’m glad that this has been legalized in some countries around the world. This taught me to be open-minded to people and never judge them by their appearances. Living a life in this age, wherein people can be less fault-finding, can change children in ways that they can be more accepting of people. After all, being a gay person was never easy even more so when you’re a couple. They have to continuously fought for their rights and beliefs. Even now, some people still judge them and ask rude questions.
Eco-friendly
Climate change has been an issue for years. The invention of eco-friendly products and activities are some of the answers to solve the polluted environment. Thinking about the future and how it can affect me, I thought of ways on how to help save the environment as well as lessen waste. Eco-friendly products are on the rise these years. My future, as well as others, will be greatly impacted for the better if people realize the effect of using it instead of using non-biodegradable items. Small changes can manifest into big impacts. If people help or save the environment by a little, it can accumulate and save this planet.
Sustainable Development Goals
Ever since the first time I heard of this, it never left my mind. Knowing that this exists reassures me that the world can be a better place. There are 17 global goals that can help reshape the future to become a better place. According to UNDP (2020), these goals were made in order to resolve poverty, conserve the planet and provide peace and prosperity to everyone by 2030. I believe these objectives are important because it helps create powerful advocacies. Moreover, sustainable development practices aid countries to develop and adapt to challenges, such as climate change.
Reference:
UNDP. (2020). Sustainable Development Goals. Retrieved December 05, 2020, from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html
