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My experience with
computers began when I was in Grade 6 at school. I used it once to see
something on the screen. I don't remember what it was. The next time was
when we advanced from the typewriters to the Apple IIe in Year 8. I remember
becoming increasingly frustrated and confused as to why my work had never
been saved the following class when I clearly remembered saving it at the
end of the previous class. It wasn't until the end of term that my teacher
finally had a look at what I was doing, said it was correct, then had a
look at the floppy disk the school had provided and said, "Oh, I've given
you a faulty disk." No apology for putting me down every class for not
being able to save my work all term! It did not make me feel positively
towards computers at all!
School did not improve my feelings towards computers through later high school either. It was only thanks to Rob, my now step father, who lent me his old 386 or 486 - whatever it was. I was able to explore at my own pace, learn how to use a word processor properly, and figure out a bit of DOS. I also discovered a rather addictive game on it called "Castle". I was able to learn more in my final year of school when Rob leant me a newer computer. I'm not sure what type it was, but it had some more of the Microsoft Office programs on it, which I began to explore. That computer even had Microsoft Windows on it! Oh, that was also my introduction to the card game "Solitaire" - another addictive time waster :) It was not until I started university that I discovered the internet. I began using email, online databases and chat rooms. I even met my current partner, Tim, in a chat room that year. I also refined my skills in Microsoft Office, including using Powerpoint for the first time, as well as using other course specific programs. Computers were becoming really fun! Since then I have moved in with Tim and began using his old computer. It was a 75 MHz Pentium processor running on Windows 95. I have now designed and built my own web site, been a part of online communities, discovered more games (e.g. Mahjongg, Abe's Oddworld Oddysee), learnt how to use graphics programs, audio programs ...I've even looked inside a computer now! I know, I still have a long way to go, but I'm getting there. As you can see, I've been learning about computers and the Internet mostly over the last few years. It's all good fun, and I'm pleased my experiences at school did not hamper my curiosity and enthusiasm to explore more at a later stage. Many things would be a lot more difficult if I did not persist. My university education has insisted that work be done on computer, some classes have been done solely on computer; I would not have met Tim (aaarrrgghhh..!!); communicating with my sister in Thailand would be much more difficult; I would not have some great online friends; and my prospects for a job would be more limited. Computers are becoming a major part of our daily lives and I'm so glad I'm not afraid of them. |
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