Hello. My name is Jim Ficenec. I am a senior. I don’t own a cell phone.
I am a social minority. I have come across only one other senior who doesn’t own one. It has gotten to the point where, as a teenager, I am expected to own one.
Several times I have had to quickly change the subject when a cute girl has asked for my number. While my friends discuss conversations they had via text message, I silently sit in the corner. However, it’s not the end of the world.
My seventh-grade year marked the first time one of my friends got a cell phone. Back then I had no problem communicating with my friends, because all conversations took place face-to-face.
Although that is no longer the case, I don’t have a problem getting a hold of people or communicating. As a matter of fact, I believe I have more of a “life” for my lack of a cell.
Let’s face it, most teenagers are slaves to their phones. A social life is important, but some people take it too far. According to a recent study of cell phone usage, the average teenager age 13-17 sends 1,742 texts every month.
That’s 1,742 texts more than I do, yet I have friends, I go places and keep in touch with them without having to communicate with them every waking second.
Children younger and younger are also embracing cell phones. It has become common for grade-school kids to have a phone. I have come across children as young as 9 who not only have a cell phone, but claim that “most kids” in their class own one.
Earlier this year, the New York Post published an article on a 13-year-old girl who accumulated 14,528 text messages in the course of one month to her friends, most of whom are 12 and 13 year olds. As reported in the Post, that is “one [text message] every two minutes of every waking hour.”
Now texting in itself is harmless, but it’s starting to affect our lives. Several times I have come close to being in a car accident because the driver I’m with decided to text rather than wait to send that all-important message. It just isn’t worth the risk.
I’ll be the first to admit it’s my fault that I don’t own a phone. No job means no money, and no money means no phone.
However, to everyone who may think I “don’t have a life” for not owning one, it’s time for you to drop the phone, stop relying on it and get a life.

Jim Ficenec is a student at Gross Catholic High School. The Bellevue Leader will periodically publish a column written by journalism students at local high schools.

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