How Technology Personalizes My Path to Purpose by Canace

How Technology Personalizes My Path to Purpose by Canace - November 2025 Scholarship Essay

I can learn almost anything with just a few clicks, but turning information into understanding still takes effort. For me, the best thing technology has done isn’t just giving me new apps or tools, it has allowed me to take control of my own learning and explore my passions in ways my classroom alone couldn’t. Technology has broken down the physical and logistical barriers, proving that education can and must go beyond the four walls of the school.

When I started dual enrollment classes at City College of San Francisco as a high school junior, my schedule suddenly felt like two full-time jobs. Keeping track of both high school and college deadlines on paper would have been impossible. That’s where technology became my lifeline. Tools like Google Classroom and the college’s online systems kept everything organized in one place. Submitting work, checking due dates, and accessing lectures online allowed me to focus my mental energy on understanding complex concepts rather than on the logistics of turning in assignments. By allowing me to attend lectures and complete coursework from anywhere, technology effectively gave me back time and mental space, which made my overall learning more effective and sustainable.

This flexibility and access also allowed me to pursue my interest in User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) design, a field my high school curriculum didn’t cover. Knowing that classroom and book learning can only go so far, I sought out resources that were outside the traditional academic structure. I enrolled in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera while keeping up with my regular classes. This wasn’t just another online class, it was hands-on practice where I built a portfolio, learned real-world skills, and confirmed that design is the path I want to follow in college. Technology filled a significant gap in my education, guiding me to explore my passion and commit to a career path before I even graduated high school.

Technology also helped me stay resilient during challenging moments at school. With teacher turnover in advanced Math and Science, classroom instruction was sometimes inconsistent. Instead of getting frustrated, I turned to resources like Khan Academy for clear, step-by-step explanations. I also used Generative AI strategically, not to do my work for me, but to ask deeper questions like, “How does this concept relate to design?” or “Why is this formula important in real life?” These tools helped me understand topics more fully, even when lessons were incomplete or unclear. In the past, we could only learn from the teacher and the book; now, technology lets me pursue a deeper understanding that transcends the limits of any single textbook.

Ultimately, technology has given me the confidence and tools to take charge of my own learning. It allowed me to balance multiple responsibilities, explore a future career path, and find creative solutions when my school environment changed. These experiences have taught me to be resourceful and intentional in my learning, preparing me not just for college, but for a future where I can use my skills to design the very technology that empowers the next generation of learners.