Justin Peters

Per 1

Fifty Years from Today

            Neils Bohr once said, “Prediction is difficult, especially of the future.” For some people their future is inevitable but for many people a successful future is achieved through wisdom, good decisions and maturity. Many people strive to be the best they can be by setting goals early. As I sit here and write this essay, I have to sit back and really think. What will I be doing fifty years from today? Will I be successful and happy? Will I be healthy? These are all questions one may have when asked the question of “what will you be doing fifty years from today?” I believe that in 2058 life will viewed much differently than it is viewed today. As Malcolm Bricklin states, “Overall, whatever we drive, however we live, whomever we listen to for ideas and inspiration, we are part of a race that survives.” (Bricklin, 102).

            I believe that at 68 years of age I will still be very healthy. This is because of the new vaccines that will be created by then. For example, Earl G. Brown, a specialist in virus evolution states, “vaccine treatments will control viruses that cause obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and many autoimmune diseases.” (Brown, 186) Brown also believes “we will cure cancers with therapeutic viruses and bacteria that specifically attack tumors.” (Brown, 185) Brown’s ideas are supported by Gregory A. Poland, a professor of medicine. “Vaccines against cancer will become commonplace.” (Poland, 179) With deadly diseases like cancer out of the picture I hope to live into my hundreds. Francis S. Collins, a geneticist, believes “the average normal human life span will reach triple digits.” (Collins, 4) With life in to my hundreds I plan to still be working hard at 68. I predict that getting to work and back will be more time efficient and environmentally efficient. Joseph L. Bryant, a director of the Animal Model Division, believes. “The government has finally approved a fuel for cars that does not damage the ozone layer.” (Bryant, 165) As an environmentalist, I feel is absolutely essential that we take into account the pollution aspect of our day to day life.

            As for my children, grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren, I hope that they can experience the beauty of nature. I strongly agree with Peter Marra, a research scientist, as he states “I want my grandchildren to experience nature as I have experienced nature.” (Marra, 213) I feel that if we don not protect our wildlife, many wonderful species of plants, animals and even fish will be extinct in fifty years. In addition, Marra states “Some scientists estimate that that we may lose 10 percent or more of our bird species in the next fifty years.” (Marra, 211)

            I hope that by 2058 the problem of world energy is solved. This would eliminate pollutants going into our air, soil and oceans. Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, believes by 2058 “The ingenuity of America’s engineers produced a revolution in clean vehicles and renewable energy captured from the sun, wind and waves.” (Pope, 172) An energy crisis would be a joke if we could use the natural power given to us by the sun alone. As a senior in high school I begin this journey into the future with an open and optimistic mind. I believe just as Julian Cribb of Cosmos Magazine believes that the future is “No longer the domain of gypsies with crystal balls, predicting the future is a complicated science.” (Cribb)

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

Bricklin, Malcolm. Future Cars and the Jetsons: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from         Today. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Brown, Earl G. Snapshots of the Future with Infectious Disease: The Way We Will Be 50            Years from Today. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Poland, Gregory A. Leaps and Eurekas: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from Today.         Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Collins, Francis S. A Revolution in Medicine: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from            Today. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Bryant, Joseph L. The View as I Glide By: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from Today.    Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Marra, Peter. The Bird’s Eye View of the Next 50 Years: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from Today. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Pope, Carl. Wake-Up Call on Global Warming: The Way We Will Be 50 Years from          Today. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008.

Cribb, Julian. “Predicting the Future: its becoming a science.” Cosmos Magazine 20 Sep.   2006: 27-29.