Driving change to empower the future by Aniya

Driving change to empower the future by Aniya - September 2025 Scholarship Essay

Education has been a widely debated topic for many years. Many people ask themselves whether education has changed for the worse, or changed for the better? As time has passed, schools have transitioned from chalkboards to computers, in-person learning to virtual learning, and textbooks to google search. While these changes can be used for the good, many students mis-use these forms of learning. As time continues to progress, I hope to see lowered education costs, a better use of Artificial intelligence, and a decrease in the use of technology in schools.
As of 2024, the average tuition for an in-state, private college is greater than $43,000 per year. This is not including room and board, a meal plan, or any other payments that are required. Society is setting new adults up for failure. Asking a freshly graduated student to decide what they want to do for the next 40 years of their life is not reasonable. On top of this pressure, students are required to pay around $43,000 a year just to receive that education that they might like. A typical college student will attend a university for 4 years to receive their Bachelors Degree, which puts them at a minimum of $172,000 in debt. A very small percentage of adults can pay this large amount off, while living a comfortable life. In the next 10 years, I hope that the cost to receive an education will decrease, so more individuals have the opportunity to further their education without stress about their financial state.
Artificial intelligence is an up-in-coming form of technology that is only progressing as time passes. AI is a very controversial topic between many, as it can be used positively, as well as negatively. Many students use Artificial intelligence as a “cheat code” for assignments. This is only hurting the future of society, and making adolescents less-knowledgeable. Students are not learning the necessary information to build a career for themselves. Technology rises as the amount of people using it increases. I believe that AI is heading in the wrong direction, and I hope to see it eliminated in school-settings. I believe that no matter how impactful it can be for kids in school, the bad will always outweigh the good. Children are not wise enough to use AI properly, and keeping it in school systems will only harm our future generations.
Along with artificial intelligence, technology itself is growing each and every day. New devices are being invented, and there's just about an electronic device for everything. While technology is extremely beneficial in today's day-in-age, I believe that it is heading in the wrong direction and will corrupt generations to come. Cell phones are a great example of why some forms of technology should be banned during school hours. Cell phones are great at creating distractions, decreasing a child's social skills, and they even promote cheating. Many states have even gone as far as creating laws that prevent cell phones in schools. A statistic about the banning of cell phones states that “ …77% of public schools prohibit(ed) phones during the class of 2025, up from 66% in 2015”. While technological advancements are extremely useful, many students use them irresponsibly. I believe that technology in schools should stay where it is at and advancements should be prevented in school settings.
An education is more than just learning facts, it is a building-block that individuals need to reach success in life. By lowering the cost of an education, eliminating Artificial Intelligence in schools, and decreasing the use of technology, we as a nation can create a better environment for students to learn in. These changes could be extremely important for the success of our future, and I hope to see them making a difference in our nation.