In 6th grade, my middle school handed out Chromebooks to every student. It wasn't a big ceremony — just a teacher sliding a device across a desk and moving on to the next kid. But that moment quietly changed everything for me.
What Access Actually Means
Before that Chromebook, my access to the internet was limited. My family didn't have the kind of setup where a computer was always available. Getting that device didn't just mean I could do homework more easily — it meant I suddenly had access to the entire world.
I started researching career paths. I discovered coding. I watched YouTube tutorials on web development. I found forums where people were building things and talking about ideas I'd never encountered before. The device was a portal, and I walked through it.
"I suddenly gained access to countless online learning materials that assisted me in studying and preparing for classes, which helped me improve drastically as a student."
It Became a Creative Outlet
My peers and I also used those Chromebooks as creative tools. I made drawings and videos to share with friends and family. I wrote things just because I could. The device gave me a space to express myself that I hadn't had before — and that creative habit has followed me ever since.
Why Technology Access Is an Equity Issue
Here's what I think about a lot: what if my school hadn't given us those Chromebooks? What if I'd had to wait until high school to have reliable internet access? Would I have still discovered computer science? Would I have still learned to code?
Maybe. But maybe not on the same timeline. And in a world where early exposure to technology shapes career trajectories, timing matters.
Millions of low-income students are navigating their education without reliable devices or internet access. That gap — the digital divide — has real consequences that compound over time.
What I Plan to Do About It
One of my long-term goals is to help provide underprivileged students with computers and tablets — the same kind of access that changed my life. Whether through a nonprofit, a corporate initiative, or partnerships with schools, I want to make sure that no kid misses their version of the Chromebook moment because their family couldn't afford it.
Technology is a lifestyle. It's a tool for curiosity, for creativity, for economic mobility, and for building things that matter. Every student deserves access to that.