TEEN-2-TEEN
by
Ethan M ic h els o n
The secret diary of an energy hoarder
I
COURTESY PHOTO
hide it underneath my bed. The beast that feeds my life — it’s not the boogie man, but it scares me just the same. It’s the power strip that connects all of my electronic gadgets. I have so many I fear it will cause a citywide blackout. Every now and again, I consider eliminating some of those cords. But truth be told, I’d rather trigger a massive power outage than unplug technology that entertains me and allows me to instantly connect to the world. I could not unplug my computer, which I need for homework and music. Ethan Michelson I could not unplug my TV, which helps me keep up with Friends and late-night infomercials. I could not unplug my cell phone charger. My phone needs enough power to send hundreds of texts every day — and to call my mom in the next room, so I do not have to get up to ask her a question.
My energy hoarding goes on and on. I need my tablet to keep up with friends (not the TV show); I need my alarm clock so I will not wake up halfway through the school day; and so on. Just looking at my power strip and the highway of wires connecting me to instant communication gratification, I think about the juice it takes to power my gadgets — and ultimately how my family’s electrical cooperative works hard to supply enough electricity to satisfy my needs — in addition to everyone else’s. While I’d like to reduce the size of the beast under my bed, I’m going to stay connected — and safe. At this time, I haven’t overloaded the power strip, and my hoarding hasn’t caused a widespread outage. Now, if I can just keep my cat from chewing the cords … . n Ethan Michelson, 16, is a junior at Rolla High School. Involved in speech, FCCLA, church and Boy Scouts, Ethan’s passion lies in journalism. He currently works for the Turtle Mountain Star, KEYA Radio Station and BEK Sports Broadcasting. Ethan is the son of Cameron and Dainelle Mickelson, who are members of Northern Plains Electric Cooperative.
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