The Real World

             Since coming back to school for sophomore year, I have learned a ton about “the real world” stuff. I am taking three business classes, and while I thought I would be completely miserable in them, this is not the case at all (except for Accounting…this is exactly how I thought it would be). I am enjoying my Foundations in Business course and my Business Information Systems class, and I really feel like I am learning relevant information for my future. I used to complain about having to use computers so much because I didn’t “understand” technology but now I feel that this was a very immature and naïve stance for me to take. Technology is no longer just another part of life. It is taking over all aspects of our world, and without the proper understanding of how to use it, people are going to be left behind. There is increasingly becoming a need for tech-savvy professionals, and while there is a specific market for high-tech products, ideas, and experts, everyone needs to understand the basics of innovative technologies.

            Technology is everywhere, and this is the mindset that is emphasized in my Business Information Systems course. We are learning how to use new software, which has included the use of Sharepoint, Excel, and Access, and we discuss a new innovative technology everyday in class. I have learned so much in just a short period of time, and I attribute this to the set-up of the class. We spend a lot of time “learning” on our own, which includes sitting at the computer and pressing a lot of buttons until you get something to work right, and we collaborate with others often in order to further enhance our learning experience. The whole basis of the class is done online, and I have already been able to see an improvement in how quickly I am able to accomplish just basic tasks in my everyday life (like signing into e-College, or Facebook- it is more often Facebook). Not only are the skills I have learned relevant to my life, but I have also been able to assist others with their computer issues (typically dealing with StuWireless). The innovative technologies we have discovered in class are so interesting, and they really cause me to think about what direction our world is moving towards. We have discussed a new product everyday in class, such as 3-D printers, Bitcoins, self-driving cars, and Google Glasses just to name a few, and I am astounded by the sheer number of inventions that have been made in just the past year. This class has not only taught me all about “the real world” stuff but it has also showed me that this “real world stuff” isn’t as scary as I originally thought. This is the future of our planet, and it is up to me to embrace it and think about it as the “world” stuff not just the stuff that is required of me in order to have a successful career.