Picture this: a room full of eager, wide-eyed 7-year-olds, ready to learn about the mysteries of the professional world. Yes, I had the extraordinary opportunity to speak at my son's class on Career Day, and let me tell you, it was an adventure like no other.
Little did I know, these youngsters would leave me amazed with their insightful questions and infectious enthusiasm.
Going back to last week, as I racked my brain for ways to make my upcoming presentation on Career Day exciting for the kids, I couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and a tad of nerves.
My own son was beyond thrilled about my visit to his class, and I couldn't bear to let him down. Oh and not mention my husband, who works in AI, was presenting the previous week and from what I heard he crushed it with the charm and goodie bags, so the pressure was on.
The Quest for Inspiration
As the day of my visit approached, I realized that explaining the intricate nuances of cloud computing to a group of young children would be no small feat.
I wanted to go beyond just talking about customers, success, and management, but rather delve into the core of the cloud education company I work for. I wanted to create an experience that would leave a lasting impression on their young minds.
The Birth of "Journey to the Digital Sky”
A few years ago, when my son was just a toddler, I used to love helping out at his cute little toddler school, tucked in the woods of Temescal Canyon, CA. Story time was my favorite thing to be a part of!
Cowabunga, I thought to myself! What’s a better way to engage with kids than with a story!
So, in a moment of inspiration, the story about a little girl named Lily and her robot friend, Sammy, came to life.
They embark on an adventure to find the Cloud Kingdom.
Along the way, they meet a wise owl named Oliver who explains that the Cloud Kingdom is where computers store and share information.
Lily and Sammy also learn that the cloud helps their computer remember everything they do and allows them to share and connect with others.
They encounter examples of cloud computing, such as playing games together and streaming movies!
The Grand Castle of AWS and my AWS Community Builder hat
In their journey, Lily and Sammy stumble upon a Grand Castle with the initials AWS carved on the main gate of the fortress that beautifully protects the castle all around!
They learn that AWS is the biggest castle in the Cloud Kingdom, where computers from all around the world come together. It is Amazon's special place where they store and share information.
Lily and Sammy realize that it is another magical part of the digital world, making it possible for people to create amazing things and bring their ideas to life.
As they enter the grand castle of AWS, they are greeted by friendly digital assistants who explain more about its wonders.
They learn that Amazon Web Services is like a giant toolbox filled with incredible resources for computers and developers.
It offers services and tools to store and process data, build websites, and even create virtual worlds.
Lily and Sammy's eyes sparkle with excitement as they discover that AWS helps power many of their favorite apps and websites, like games, streaming platforms, and even online stores.
Back in the classroom, the kids loved learning more about Amazon Web Services (AWS), the biggest cloud provider, and they were excited to know more about some of the coolest things that are powered by AWS.
They, of course, made the connection to my AWS Community Builders hat and wanted to know more about what that was.
They thought it was really cool to be part of that community, and one of the kids said it reminded him of a platform called Codedojo!
Along with Lily and Sammy, the class gained a newfound appreciation for the technology behind their digital experiences!
The Cloud Wizard Bracelet
To keep the children engaged throughout the story, I told them that if they sat nicely and listened to the story, I would award them with something special: the "Cloud Wizard Bracelet."
Though it was nothing more than a glow stick bracelet, its true value lay in the memories and emotions it would evoke.
I wanted it to become a symbol of their first journey to the cloud, a reminder of the first (maybe) time they were introduced to the principles of cloud computing.
The Curiosity Ignited
As I finished reading, all the kids started clapping!
What? Could it be true? Did they really like my story?
I couldn’t believe the amount of questions my little story sparked in them!
And let me tell you, these kids are so much more in tune with technology than we may think; my little story completely resonated with them.
We usually tend to assume things based on our own experiences, and in this case, our own childhood, but what we tend to easily forget is that Generation Alpha was born with technology, and a lot of things are native and obvious to them; something that would take an adult longer to grasp is already a given to them!
This topic related so much to them, their habits, their lives as they use so many cloud-supported services all the time, and their curiosity was insatiable.
They wanted to know more about the Cloud, the Internet, and the boundless possibilities that awaited them.
The Question That Stumped Me
If you asked me what I think I would be talking about, I would probably never have thought that we would be getting specific and explaining Regions and Local zones, but their questions were so logical that giving the answer to them only confirmed that their thought process was right from the beginning!
Among the many thought-provoking questions, one stood out as a testament to the brilliance of young minds: "Is the Internet because of the Cloud, or is the Cloud because of the Internet?”
And I just stood there in awe of their ability to grasp the intricate relationship between these two pillars of the digital world.
How remarkable is it that these young minds are beginning to contemplate the symbiotic relationship between the Internet and the Cloud?
In a sense, the Internet can be seen as the foundation upon which the Cloud stands. It is the vast network of interconnected computers, servers, and devices that enable the transmission of data, information, and communication. Without the Internet, there would be no digital highways for the Cloud to travel upon.
However, the Cloud, with its immense storage capacity, processing power, and accessibility, has transformed the Internet into something far more powerful.
It has revolutionized the way we store, process, and access data, ushering in an era of unparalleled connectivity and innovation.
The cloud has become the catalyst that propels the Internet to new heights, allowing us to harness its potential in ways we could have only dreamed of before.
So, is the Internet because of the Cloud? Or is the Cloud because of the Internet?
This thought-provoking question from those young minds reminds us that even in the realm of technology, nothing exists in isolation.
We are part of a vast interconnected web, where innovation begets innovation, and the boundaries of what is possible continue to expand.
In the end, the distinction between the Internet and the Cloud becomes blurred, for they are not simply entities, but rather manifestations of human ingenuity and the collective quest for knowledge and progress.
Together, they pave the way for a future where possibilities are limitless, and where the boundaries of the loud are yet to be fully explored.
Famous Quotes to Ponder
As I reflect on this extraordinary experience, two famous quotes come to mind:
Maya Angelou once said:
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
In that classroom, I witnessed firsthand the power of storytelling and its ability to leave a mark on young hearts and minds and to spark the birth of future innovators, thinkers, and dreamers.
Steve Jobs famously said:
"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
In the eyes of those young children, I glimpsed the sparks of audacious dreams and the potential for greatness.
It is up to us to nurture and support their unyielding belief in their ability to shape the future.
As my time with the children came to an end, I couldn't help but wonder about the profound impact this experience might have had on their young lives.
How many budding innovators did I inspire?
How many dreams did I help ignite?
Final Thoughts: Empowering Generation Alpha
Speaking at my son's class on Career Day was an experience I will forever cherish.
The enthusiasm, wisdom, and boundless curiosity of those 7-year-olds warmed my heart.
This experience sparked something in me too as I will now be channeling my passion to sharing knowledge and resources with Generation Alpha.
I am reminded that, in a world driven by technology, it is our duty to empower the next generation with knowledge, inspiration, and the tools to shape their own destinies.
As I left the classroom that day, I carried with me the collective dreams of those young minds, the echoes of their applause, and the unspoken promise of a future illuminated by the power of their imagination.
So now, dear reader, I leave you with this question:
What stories will you share to ignite the spark of possibility in the hearts and minds of those around you?
The journey awaits.
Top comments (2)
👏 This is fantastic! Empowering the next generation with cloud technology is such a crucial step towards a brighter future. It's incredible to see the impact we can make by introducing cloud concepts early on. Keep up the amazing work! 🌟💪
Thank you @aditmodi! It was such a fun and rewarding experience.
I'm now on the lookout for more opportunities like these :)