A Generation Alpha Student Speaks OUT!

Ever since I was born, I have been around technology. My parents were digital natives, but

the way we use technology is different. They used it for work, communication, and

entertainment, but for my generation, it's a part of our everyday lives, almost like second

nature. We use tablets and smartphones to play games, watch videos, and even do

homework. Technology is exciting and constantly changing, offering new possibilities and

ways to explore the world. I even help my grandparents with the internet and using their cell

phones. They always ask me how to do things like check their email or video call family

members, and it makes me feel like a tech expert. Despite this, school feels like it’s stuck in

the past. Walking into my school every day feels like stepping back in time. The building

looks modern with clean hallways, bright posters, and classrooms filled with shiny desks

and the latest technology. It looks like a place where amazing things should happen. The

walls are painted in cheerful colors, and there are plants in the corners, making the school

feel lively and welcoming. But despite the beautiful surroundings, something is missing.

The excitement about learning just isn't there. The tools might be new, but the way they’re

used feels old and outdated.

When I was in kindergarten, the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Suddenly, we were

learning from home, staring at screens all day. It was strange at first, but I got used to it. I

thought it would be fun because I was already used to using technology at home. But the

lessons were just like in school—boring and repetitive. We read from digital worksheets

and answered questions that felt like they were made just to prepare us for tests. There was

no room for creativity or exploration. Even though we were using computers, it didn’t feel

exciting or new. It felt like we were doing the same old stuff, just on a screen.

My parents tried to help, but they were busy with work and didn’t always have time. I

missed my friends and the fun parts of school, like recess and art class. The pandemic

made me realize that learning can happen anywhere, but it also showed me how outdated

our school system is. We have all this amazing technology, but we’re not using it in a way

that makes learning fun and engaging. I want to learn in a way that makes sense to me, that

connects with my life and interests. But right now, it feels like we’re stuck in a system that

doesn’t understand us or what we need.

When we came back to school, I was in third grade. The gap between kindergarten and third

grade felt huge. The grown-ups thought it was okay to do things the same way they had

always been done. We went right back to lots of tests and pulled kids out for special help. It

felt like they didn’t learn anything from the pandemic. The classrooms looked the same,

and the lessons were still boring and repetitive. They didn’t change the way they taught,

even though we had just spent years learning in a completely different way.

When I got back to school, I knew there were things I should know, but I didn't. The old ways

made clear what I didn't know and created new problems too. The gaps in learning got

bigger because my classmates and I missed important stuff in the early years. It was hard

for kids like me. Struggling with the new lessons was difficult because we hadn’t fully

understood the basics. Instead of helping us catch up, the lessons kept moving forward,

making us feel even more lost and frustrated.

My friends and I were acting out and misbehaving sometimes because we were bored and

couldn’t do the work. We had to stay in our seats, and there wasn’t enough time to talk to

our friends about the work. They talked out of turn, threw paper, banged on their

Chromebooks with their pencils, or sneaked onto websites we weren’t supposed to be on.

It wasn’t because we were bad kids; we were just overwhelmed and struggling to get used

to being back in the classroom.

Talking to people and making friends was tough too. We missed out on learning how to be

around each other. It felt different, like we forgot how to play and learn together. Some of us

felt lonely and didn’t know how to connect with our classmates, making it hard to feel part

of the group.

If I could design a school for me right now, it would be so different. The adults say we are in

the twenty-first century, but it doesn’t feel like it in our schools. I imagine a classroom

where learning is fun and exciting, where we can use technology to explore and create, not

just for taking tests. We would have projects that let us work on things we care about and

connect with the real world. Teachers wouldn’t just give us answers but would guide us to

discover and understand things on our own.

In my dream school, there would be more time for us to talk to our friends and work

together. We could share our ideas and learn from each other. The lessons would be

interesting and relevant to our lives. We would have choices in what we learn and how we

learn it. Imagine having classes where we could dive into our passions, whether it’s art,

music, science, or even video games.

I want a school where everyone feels seen and valued. Our cultures and experiences would

be part of the curriculum, and we would learn about each other’s backgrounds. Schools

should be places where we feel like we belong, where we are excited to come every day

because we know we are learning things that matter.

We need schools that are flexible and adapt to our needs. The world is changing fast, and

education should keep up. Instead of focusing only on tests, schools should help us

develop skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. We need to be ready

for the future, not just the next exam.

When will educators start to see us as the wonderful, marvelous individuals we were

created to be? When will they understand that we are capable of making an impact on the

world, but we need an education system that believes in us and supports us? We need

them to see us, really see us, and help us unlock our potential. Until then, I’ll keep doing

my best with what I have, even if it doesn’t always feel like enough. Maybe someday,

someone will listen to kids like me and things will change.