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Schools

Visions of the future

By MARYAN PELLAND
Published March 22, 2007

There were surprising - and thoughtful - answers to a question posed at Gulf Coast Academy last week. Ten middle school students pondered a personal vision of their future, and many painted a slightly dark picture of the world they will face.

The question: In 10 years or so, when you're an adult, what do you think might be different than it is now?

Ben Ortiz, 12

SEVENTH GRADE

Though he recently blew up his computer with an experiment involving a magnet, his career goals include designing and building hardware and software.

"There will be more computer- based learning - like I do in Florida Virtual School. (A series of classes taken via the Internet.) They will never replace teachers completely, but there might be alternatives where you just go at your own pace unless you need an adviser. That takes a lot of motivation. You have to be a good student. Maybe there will be whole careers on computers."

Kyle Judah, 12

SEVENTH GRADE

Kyle thinks about a career as a designer in the auto industry.

"The Iraq war will get worse and spread through the world. They will call many people throughout the world for help. We'll lose a lot of men and women. It would be hard to decide whether to stay with family or go to help them learn to be peaceful. If I went, I'd try to negotiate. Diplomatic solutions are better than violence. Since we get oil from there, it will get really expensive. I think science will come up with alternative fuel, maybe water-based."

Mark Lopez, 14

EIGHTH GRADE

Mark hopes he'll end up in the U.S. Senate and sees a law career in his future:

"I think there'll be change in social status. Maybe not so much middle class - taxes will wipe it out. Cars will go faster and fuel will come from water or oxygen. People might be able to work at installations on the moon or something, too. Maybe we'll still be at war in Iraq or some new one because of outcomes in Iraq."

Candace Mott, 15

EIGHTH GRADE

Candace wants a career in magazine editorial work.

"Crime will get worse - 71 percent of world crime is in the U.S. People used to go where they wanted, safely. I can't go out my front door without risking someone taking me. Or hurting me. There are sexual predators. In the future, because kids are getting smarter and there are so many bad kids, it'll get worse. We're not manufacturing oriented now, we're technically oriented. People get smarter. Someone will create a bomb worse than the nuclear one and kill a lot of people at one time."

Jonica Herzek, 12

SIXTH GRADE

Jonica aspires to be a wildlife biologist, living in a regular house - just her and a couple of adopted kids.

"I think a lot of new transportation and technology will make the world seem even smaller. Housing will be more expensive. We'll understand the oceans better and think more about how our solar system is getting bigger. There will be more construction and more pollution. Maybe the new technologies will be able to prevent the pollution."

Ray Mulder, 12

EIGHTH GRADE

Ray would like to work on aircraft for the Coast Guard.

"We'll destroy the Iranians. We'll end up like Rome - like they had everything great, then they started arguing about it and it all collapsed. That can happen to us. I don't worry about it - if it happens, it happens. I wouldn't go to war - I'd move to China instead."

Marissa Pilolli, 14

EIGHTH GRADE

Marissa figures she might end up with a career in the fashion scene, but she said she changes her mind about her career about eight times a month right now.

"There will probably be more wars. Maybe Lebanon - but still the Middle East. I'll be driving a car - and gas prices are going up so that will be expensive. I fly a lot and that will get more expensive, too. Prices of everything we need will go up, but maybe salaries, if you have a good job, will keep up."

Alana Eley, 12

SEVENTH GRADE

A pianist, Alana sees her career in music or marine biology.

"Technology will get better. Like with my music, you start with little songs and then you end up playing concertos. I'll learn more in the next 10 years, in music, math, science - everything. I'll get more experience and know more about the real world so I can understand world issues and figure out how to help. I don't worry much about the future."

Miranda Brozik, 12

SIXTH GRADE

Miranda is also an aspiring attorney because she loves to debate with people.

"There'll be more computers - more virtual things. I hope there's less homelessness since more jobs will be available. People will have to have thought more about how to help the homeless situation."

Kyle Benge, 13

SEVENTH GRADE

Kyle says he spends more than half his time thinking about the future. He believes his future career will include organizing people and systems for survival.

"The more complex we get as a country, the worse shape we're in. We use stuff too fast and don't replace it. They say we'll use up the oil in 100 years - I think it'll be quicker. Half the world is starving now, there will be anarchy in places like Europe and things will start to shut down. Places like Africa will be better off because no one will want their oil and diamonds when we're trying to fight for survival. So Africa will develop while everyone else is collapsing. I never sleep. I think about this stuff."

[Last modified March 22, 2007, 06:52:46]