Today I sat in on a character education lesson in which the students were challenged to write a letter to their 8th grade selves, listing predictions of what they believed their futures held. They were given a handful of prompts to guide their writing, so I decided for tonight’s post I’d answer them myself. Since the kids only had to write their responses and seal them away instead of posting them on the Internet, you can be sure I’ll be holding back on some specifics. But sticking with the theme of what I think will happen in the next three years, here's how I'd answer:
What are your hopes and dreams?
My hopes and dreams are fairly modest. I hope things will go as well as possible for my family and friends, as well as anyone else who may enter that circle in the coming years. As for dreams? It's already been a pretty big year in that respect. If things continue on that path as I hope they will, I'd love to see that list of family and friends come together at release party to celebrate my book being published. And once that moment comes and goes, I'd hope for the dream to come true when I can walk into a bookstore and see something I've written on the shelves.
What are your current interests? Will they be the same?
My interests, in the way I believe the question intended: Music. Books. Science. Movies. Games. At least those are the first and most obvious that come to mind. Will they be the same? I believe they'll continue to be interests, but I hope I some new ones are discovered along the way.
What do you think the world will be like?
This is a tough one to answer, so I'll say I think the world will be significantly different than it is now, and not necessarily all in ways that are good. But hopefully humanity will wake up and start addressing the problems we collectively face before it's too late to do anything about them.
What new technologies will be invented?
My teenage self would have thought something as commonplace as my iPhone is today would have been pure science fiction, and with the geometric rate that the entirety of human knowledge progresses, it’s impossible to predict. I think the biggest advances won’t be limited to something regarding circuitry, but will be medical or something else with broad societal impact. If we've reached a time where it's possible to create artificial DNA, I think it's both exciting and intimidating to consider what will come next.
What places might you visit?
Wherever the circumstances dictate.
One positive about this school year:
Right now my quickest response would be that it’s almost over, and I’d only be half-kidding. A more serious answer would have to do with seeing students overcome any number of personal difficulties they may have faced, and knowing that I had played some small part in helping them find their way to a better outcome.
One thing you are excited about for the next school year:
Top of the list, without hesitation: My new partner.
One thing about the next school year you're worried about:
Worried is really overstating it, but that's the prompt that was given. My concern (a more appropriate word) is that a lot of changes are coming to my school next year. Hopefully we'll all be ready to do what's expected of us in whatever roles we have.
Who will be able to help you with that concern:
The cheap and obvious answer would be to say some rah-rah platitude about collaboration and teamwork, but in real life it's not always that easy. I'd say the people best able to help me with whatever help I might need will be the ones most willing to be honest. And conversely, I can only hope I'll be able to provide that same kind of help for others when it's needed.
Any other questions?
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