My use of digital communication and how it empowers me

Empower

verb
[with object and infinitive]
give (someone) the authority or power to do something:
members are empowered to audit the accounts of limited companies

•  [with object] make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights: movements to empower the poor

This definition is taken from the online oxford dictionaries, it identifies an external cause enabling an individual to have more control in owning and making changes to their own life. This post is about how I personally am empowered by the internet. 

When I grow up, my absolute dream and passion is to end up making films, to get there I'll work as hard as I have to. I've had this passion for over a year now and whenever there's a chance to make a video I'll take it and do my best. The internet empowers me by letting me make as many preparations as I can imagine for my career goal way ahead of what I can do with schooling alone. 

With the internet I can get a feel for how the global film industry is so diverse from itself and how it functions. I can watch with my own eyes the developments and innovations being made by various countries’ film companies from all over the world. I can view Japan's Gainax's latest instalment of the world famous Evangelion science fiction series mere months after its release (actually this part is abuse of power really, not quite empowerment). I may also watch these foreign films on a comprehensive level by viewing them with subtitles produced by other individuals having access to the internet. This world wide experience gives me insight into the direction of films in the world, not just Australia and America.

With the help of blogging websites and forum sites, sharing my opinions and discussing them with others becomes very easy and possible. This is another way the internet empowers me. For example on the launch day of the Ender's Game film adaption trailer I wrote a post on Tumblr letting everyone interested in the film know my predictions and I even had some replies with which I debated the Ender’s Game production further.

When I get the chance to develop my skills and make my own short films I often publish and share these on the internet using websites like YouTube to present my work to an online audience and I often receive feedback and advice from them. This empowers me by giving me the option to showcase my material not just to Australia but to the rest of the world. Considering I'm just a 16 year old high schooler with no job experience, I find this pretty spectacular!

So with the internet's capabilities I am empowered; I have been given the ability to plan out my options for the future with more insight and expectations. Without the internet it's very likely I wouldn't have discovered this dream of mine or thought about what I could achieve with it using the digital connections available.

With the helping hand of our global communications systems I will make this dream a reality!

Reference: Oxford Dictionaries 2013, Oxford University Press United Kingdom, viewed 26th October 2013, <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/empower>.