Lately I have been becoming more and more aware of the negative influence cell phones can have on building relationships. I am not writing to put forth the idea that technology is just bad and the only way to fix these negative impacts is to rid ourselves of cell phones all together. Cell phones have their purpose in relationships, but I think we should pause and ask if their purpose is being abused. When I am walking around campus or through the dining hall, I see a lot of people looking at little glowing screens and not looking at each other. In an age where phones can help us to get in contact with others with more ease than ever before, are we really connected? Are we present to the people around us? Or must we always be present to the countless texts, snapchats, notifications, apps, etc. While these may have their purpose, they don't substitute for people. And we miss out on people when we are always looking down at that little white screen.
I think we are all thirsting for authentic relationships. We wouldn’t check our phones all the time if we didn't want to be connected with people. Why do we settle for the screen? I propose a simple two-word phrase: look up. We are looking down so much we don't look at each other. Choose to wait on responding to a message on a little screen and talk to the person in front of you. Pause from that group text or snapchat documenting every aspect of your life and simply live. Look up at the ever more present sun shining on campus. Look up at all the people around you. Eyes are beautiful, and we don't look at them enough. Allowing people to look into the windows of our soul rather than words on a screen requires vulnerability, which can be scary. But I truly believe it can open up a happiness no cell phone can create. Look up.
Kat Stultz
senior
Pasquerilla West
April 21
