Wessal+E’s+Final+AmEx+Speech+2017

The America That I Want to Grow Old In  When was the last time you checked your phone? Opened Snapchat? Instagram? Twitter? Even Facebook? We live in an America that is so obsessed with the digital world that it fails to acknowledge the tangible world around us. I want to grow old in an America where people live in the moment, make memories, and stop worrying about whether or not they were able to get the whole thing on their snapchat story. Don’t get me wrong, I love Snapchat. It is a fun form of communication that I use daily, but too much of a good thing can consequently become a bad thing. Those of you who know me would know that I am a HUGE Hunter Hayes fan. Every word to every song he’s ever released? You bet I know it. Let’s face it, I even sing the instrumentals. On August 23, 2016, also known as the first day of school this year, I was finally able to go to one of his concerts- don’t get me started on the fact that I was out of town when he came to the Ventura County Fair. I was beyond excited and I had my phone ready to take as many photos as possible, but when Hunter Hayes came out, my phone was the last thing on my mind. All of the photos and videos that I have now were taken by my cousin. Why? Because during the entire concert I was too busy enjoying the music. Some would say that I was “sobbing like somebody in my family died,” but the truth is I was so happy in that moment, that nothing else mattered. Around me there were people who had their Snapchats out the entire time, making sure that all of their friends knew that they were at a concert, and it makes me sad to know that they will never truly experience it the same way I did. About three weeks ago, I went to another Hunter Hayes concert, but this time it was different. I promised myself that I wouldn’t cry, and the Malibu Guitar Festival was so intimate that he would be able to see us in the front row. Again, my phone became meaningless. Before the concert I asked someone else to record it for me just for keepsake. Meanwhile, Lucy- who I inevitably made a fan because Hunter Hayes is constantly playing in our room- and I were singing and dancing our hearts out, and yes, I made Hunter laugh in the middle of his performance and he had to restart the chorus. Around us were people doing exactly what you would expect, posting everything to social media. There was a human being performing right in front of them, and all they could do was ignore him for a little rectangluar screen. Why would someone pay to go to a concert when they could just watch it on their phones and it would be the same thing? I’m not asking that they don’t have their phones, because I completely understand wanting to take pictures to show others at another time. All that I’m saying is, their memory of the concert will fully rely on what they recorded, because they did not completely experience the moment. Personally, I look back on both concerts and I can visually remember what happened. I was overjoyed for the two hours that Hunter was performing, and I have a couple of photos and videos to look back on. But my experience was pure and that is the thing that I am most thankful for. I want to grow old in an America where everyone is able to share that experience with me. I’m not talking about the Hunter Hayes concert, but what came out of it. The happy, true memories that will last me a lifetime. The 21st century has consisted of constant technological improvements.Every year there is a new iPhone that comes out, and people wait in line for hours on end to be the first to buy one. According to networkworld.com an average cell phone user touches their phone 2,617 times a day. That doesn’t include the “heaviest smartphone users” who “click, tap or swipe on their phone 5,427 times A DAY.” It is crazy to think about how much time a person spends on their phone, and what else they could be doing instead. Don’t get me wrong, I am guilty of this too, but I am more aware of it now than I was, let’s say, a year ago. I am not asking you to give up your phone in order to “correctly live your life,” but all I am asking is that you be aware of the amount of time and attention that you give to the little rectangular device. Phones were originally made in order to connect people, but now all they are doing is distracting us from the beautiful world around us. We all have seen that photo of a family in the living room sitting next to each other but all of their own devices. What is so bad about turning the screen off and talking to your parents for 10 minutes? In my family, there is a “no phones at the dinner table” rule. When we all sit together to eat, there is dialogue exchanged, and we all get to know each other a little better. Yes, sometimes there are arguments, but isn’t that what brings us closer together? I want to grow old in an America where people live on earth, not in the technological cloud. There is a happy medium between using technology to better your life, even if that is for entertainment, and enjoying your surroundings. You should not let your phone consume your entire life. Yes, I promise you that text, tweet, or snap can wait. Live life the way that I did at those Hunter Hayes concerts. Enjoy the moments for what they truly are. Spend your time making the world a better place, and make sure to tell your parents that you love them, because I guarantee you that when you’re on your deathbed, the words “damn I wish I spent more time on my phone” will not come out of your mouth.