After waiting for about a half an hour outside our school, my brother and I wondered if our parents were just running late or if they had forgotten that today was early release. We walked to the front office with our heads down and asked to borrow the office phone to call our parents. After another half hour, we finally saw our mom’s car pull up in front of the school.
Sitting in the back seat, I whispered under my breath, “maybe this wouldn’t have happened if we had phones.”
My mom snapped back with her signature line, “I’ll give you everything when you’re ready.”
Those words stick with me, leaving me wondering what “ready” truly means and if that moment of getting a phone is closer or farther than I think.
Living without a phone in today’s hyper-connected world as a junior in high school is a unique challenge. While others are glued to their screens, constantly texting, watching videos, or navigating life with apps, I’ve learned to navigate life without that constant companion. It’s not as isolating as people might think, but it does feel different.
I notice the world around me in ways I might have overlooked before, like how real conversations can unfold without the distraction of notifications. But there are downsides too, like not being able to instantly check messages, capture moments on the go, or join in the quick back-and-forth that everyone else takes for granted. It’s an experience that’s made me rethink how we balance technology and real life.
The challenges of not having a phone often come up in moments where quick access to one would make life easier. Whether it’s after an event, during travel or just handling day-to-day situations, the absence of a phone can complicate things.
When I went to the state for a DECA competition in Houston last year it wasn’t ideal without a phone. We got told to check our phones every second because of schedule changes. Asking my roommates for updates about the competition was exhausting. Not to mention the countless times I had to ask for their phone to update my parents about how things were going.
I may not always agree with my mom about phones, but not having one is, to say the least, bearable. Once you look past constantly pestering others and learn to live in the moment, you realize that being a high schooler without a phone isn’t all that bad. I’ve noticed that phones create a constant sense of distraction and urgency, pulling us away from genuine face-to-face interactions. Without one, I’ve found myself more present. I now appreciate the simplicity of moments that would otherwise have been consumed by scrolling or notifications.
I’m not completely isolated from the social world, I have a computer. It’s what I use to communicate with my friends and family when I’m away from home – whether on social media or other apps. Although, It’s not nearly as convenient as a device that fits in my pocket, it gets the job done, excluding on-the-go pictures, calling and convenience.
Navigating life without a phone has definitely taught me how to adapt. Beyond having a computer, I make a habit of planning ahead, whether it’s ensuring I have all the details I need before leaving home or coordinating plans with friends in advance. I’ve also learned to be resourceful, like asking others for help when necessary.
And honestly, not having a phone pushes me to be more present in the moment. It has taught me patience, flexibility and how to be okay with slowing down.
