One of the biggest draws of Chewonki is how disconnected students are from technology. We don’t have our phones and even with computers, our websites are limited and all internet is shut off on Saturdays. But even for those apprehensive about leaving all that behind—what about the convenience of homework or keeping up with people back home?—I think you’ll quickly find that here, if anything, technology can become a nuisance.
We still use computers often—for writing essays, checking emails, listening to music—though most of us honestly prefer to do things on pen and paper. Even when we have to use online resources, such as when we’re summarizing news stories in Environmental Issues, I often see my classmates printing them out so they don’t have to be tied to a computer. And as for me, when having to submit Spanish homework on Google Classrooms, I’d much prefer writing out my homework on paper—even if that means carrying around a physical dictionary with me—before later going to type up my work. Having such controlled spaces for technology usage really helps us ensure that we’re using it responsibly and intentionally. With students often gathering in comfy social spaces such as the cabins, the dining hall, or even the laundry room—none of which have computer access—it’s much easier to carry your homework around with you so you can whip it out wherever you are. Paper homework is also much more convenient and allows for community building and group work. Why sit alone using Quizlet to memorize Latin for the next species quiz when you could be using real specimens in the natural history room and racing your friends to call out their names?
The lack of technology has also increased our bonds so much. Even during orientation week, we often commented about how close we had gotten—”it feels like we’ve already known each other for a month!”—because every spare moment we had was spent in conversation rather than an awkward silence that we tried to avoid by scrolling on our phones. Very soon these awkward conversations evolved into other modes of connection: from music to board games or art. In just the 2 months that I’ve been here, I’ve made so many connections and memories that I know I would never have made even after a whole year with the kids at my sending school.
It makes me kind of angry when I hear people talk about how “kids these days are too attached to technology,” even though my life here at Chewonki directly affirms this statement. Maybe it’s because my anger lies more with how this phrase is often paired with a judgment on our generation as a whole. But beneath all that condescension is a nugget of truth. If we’re able to just look up for a moment and observe the natural world that we live in or the community that surrounds us, we’ll realize how much there is to be discovered in front of our faces.
Chorale Ching, Semester 74
Chorale is attending from Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington
