Posts tagged Georgia

My Apple story predates the glossy hand held devices and soothing female voices doing digital commands.  In the Eighties, personal computers weren’t for “nerds” or “geeks;” they were a spectacle that seemed more like science fiction since the technology wasn’t commonplace yet.  My parents were clever enough see the writing on the wall, though, and for Christmas of 1984 they invested in an Apple IIc.  I began learning BASIC and other important computer skills (i.e. playing “Zork.”)  By the time I started middle school in the fall of the next year, I was a bona fide “Whiz Kid” (for those of you that remember THAT televisions series.)  My Apple Story is a simple one, but it had a lasting impact on my life: In sixth grade, my Georgia middle school started a computer class and I was scheduled into it right after home room.  The class’s teacher, it turned out, had no idea what to do beyond turning the school’s Apple IIe computers on and off.  After just a couple of days of fumbling she discovered that I knew *exactly* what I was doing and offered to “allow me” to help her with the class.  I agreed… in exchange for her letting myself and the other students to play computer games I had copies of every Friday.  The deal was struck and once a week we enjoyed an hour of Karateka and Choplifter and whatever else I could get my hands on.  Good times.  It was also the first time a certain shy kid learned that knowledge of technology would help get him through life and it was (at the risk of sounding cheesy) the first time I had ever felt true personal confidence.  Sappy and dated – but that’s my most memorable Apple story.

This was written as a response to a contest on Mashable.  I figured it was worth reposting on my blog for the hell of it.