The assignment

September 13, 2011 by kidfriendlyja 7 Comments

Joining in on

This week’s Write on Edge RemembeRED prompt is to explore your earliest memories of being online. There are two catches: Please do not use the phrase “I remember…” Also? No laundry lists. Try to focus on one small memory and share that with us. Tell us how it impacted your life and what it meant for you.

The homework assignment:

Set up your OWN email account and send an email to the professor as proof that it was done.

All that was running through my head is “this man is mad, he can’t be for real”

I don’t have a computer. There was an audible groan through out the class. Someone in the class mentioned that they didn’t have a computer, to which the professor responded there is a computer lab on the 3rd floor. ARGHHHH!

That place and those computers are scary. Passed by it once and it was loud and certainly very squeaky.  There were lots of whirly noises. Sigh, couldn’t he just give us a paper to write!

And naturally the man wants us to do it without any help.

So off I went to the computer lab feeling as small as an ant and wishing I could fade into the background.

Fear was completely taking over. What if I did something wrong? what if I touched the computer and it broke? (really a silly notion as I had been on a computer a few times before just never on the World Wide Web.)

At least the computer was up and running… and I though knew it was not part of the assignment I asked the lab guy to give some help to get on the www.

This one was set up to click a little globe like icon, couldn’t be easier. Now if only I could remember what came next. Back to guy who is starting to look at me cross-eyed. Oh yes! you had to type in an address on top! The address I had was something called yahoo.com or something like that.

Oh no! oh no I couldn’t find where to put the @#$@#$ address. Why is this so hard.

Now I am laughing because I clicked on something and I find myself no longer on the world wide web. sigh

Back to the computer guy, who clicks and points in rapid fashion.

I feel like a whirlwind has passed over and around me. Totally confused.

But after a few minutes lo and behold there it was YAHOO with a question’ do you want  to sign up?’

After a long questionnaire, I really despise forms, there it was my first email account -hellojoseph@yahoo.com

I sent the professor his email and hurriedly left the lab which was getting more crowded at the email.

There was no doubt in my mind that I’ll never use the account again, and if this professor knew any better he would give me my A and never trouble me like this again.

HA!

Fast forward 15 years and God knows that I absolutely ‘die’ without internet access and I not only have one email account I have 4. Yes I said right- 4.

Along with two twitter accounts, facebook and 3 blogs all serving different purposes.

When I think back to that time I always giggle at how anxious I use to be and how fearless I am now in trying new things online.

Installing new software to the computer… now that is a different story.