I grew up in a home with a television set in every room –
even the bathrooms and the kitchen. By the time I graduated high school, I was
sick of television and its omnipresence in my life. I have not had a television
in my home since then, seven years ago. Now don’t get me wrong; I think TV
shows are entertaining, informative, and generally enjoyable. I also believe
that everything has its time and its place.
Today, I am one of those crazy people who only watch
television on the Internet. Hulu and I are good friends. As a student, the
shift to online-only TV has been fantastic! I get to choose what I watch and
when I watch it. I can pause, rewind, and fast forward as I need to. Instead of
being a slave to the television set, broadcast schedule, and commercial breaks,
I can manage my life as I see fit. TV shows become a reward or a break while
studying, rather than a distraction or background noise. This shift has allowed
me to focus my attention on one thing at a time, which in turn has made me a
very successful student. I earned my B.A. in Music summa cum laude and have
just finished my first semester working toward my M.S. in Communication
Disorders with a 4.0 GPA in 18 hours of coursework.
I know that relatively new TV services allow users to pause,
rewind, fast forward, record, and replay TV shows, but they come at a price. Internet-based
TV has not only benefited me because of the flexibility of the viewing
schedule, but has also benefited me financially. Paying for college is a heavy
burden, and every twenty dollars spent feels like another straw on the camel’s
back. Basic cable costs at least $20, so I know
that I am saving money by watching online. The free viewing available through
Hulu and many network TV websites is a great relief for someone (like me) who
refuses to spend any money on “extras.”
Time and money are two of the most precious resources a
person possesses. The shift to viewing media online has allowed me to preserve
and manage my resources wisely as an independent adult student. It has provided
flexibility and freedom and also encourages me to make my family and my studies
first priority. Altogether, internet-based television is a huge blessing to me as
a student.
