By Soleil Shah

The start of a new year resets the clock and signals a fresh 12 months of possibility. Each year, ideas develop, progress unfolds, and events spanning from politics to pop culture shape the world. This passage of time often leads people to consider life in other eras, and the experiences associated with them. For some, the phrase “I feel like I was born in the wrong generation” reflects an interest in different periods of history, while others are simply just curious about events they were not around to witness. At Ponte Vedra High School (PVHS), students considered the question, “What is one object, experience, or trend not from our time that you would have liked to experience?”

Starting at the beginning, quite literally, sophomores Sophia Chen and Campbell James expressed interest in seeing historical religious figures. “I would like to witness one of Jesus’ miracles,” said Chen, followed by James’ comment “(or witness) when Paul was in his journey around Europe enlightening people.”

On the track of notable eras, sophomore Connie Bowden discussed interest in fashion from the “Roaring 20s,” which was a time characterized by widespread prosperity, mass consumerism, and the rise of the Jazz Age. Bowden said, “I would want to experience the flapper girls of the 1920’s trend. I love their outfits, and I think it would be so much fun to dress like them.”

Meghna Guru, sophomore, expressed wanting to “experience free (national) parks” before they were popularized and began requiring parking and ticketing fees prior to entry. Currently, Yellowstone National Park charges $35 per vehicle, and most other national parks require some form of entry fee. This shift reflects a broader trend in which many items and experiences that were one free (such as plastic grocery bads or air for tires) now require payment, while the cost of entertainment, including concert, movie, and museum tickets, has also increased.

The most common answer from PVHS students came down to one thing: iPhones. Today, life can appear impossible without owning a cell phone, but for Gen Z, the so called “digital natives,” iPhones can be a source of frustration. Senior Paulina Claypool said, “life before cell phones… was probably a lot more exciting and engaging.” Similarly, senior Bailee Busch commented that she would want to live in a time without phones “because people would be more involved and not obsessed with their electronics.” Lauren Thompson, senior, stated “life would be much less chaotic, and people would be happier without the negative things phones have such as social media.”

Many seniors expressed interest in experiencing life as teens did in the 80s and 90s, when technology was far less advanced than it is today. Senior Reagan Kearney said, “I would’ve liked to experience the thrill of having the first time I listen to a piece of music be on a record player and not my phone. I hate having the song “spoiled” before I truly get the chance to take it all in myself first.” Senior Evangeline Schlotzer said her dad often reminisces about playing early videogames during his childhood. Schlotzer says she thinks “it would have been cool to play videogames (Nintendo, Gameboy, etc.) when they first came out in the 80s.” Senior Anna Shuck said, “I have always wanted to live in the 1990s when my favorite TV shows were playing live.”

Audrey Huveldt, senior, turned the clock way back to the 1940s-1960s saying she wised she could “experience drive in movies because they seem like a fun thing to do and place to bring your friends.” Drive in movies still exist today, but not nearly at the magnitude and popularity they did during their prime.

Whether looking back decades or centuries, PVHS students expressed a shared curiosity about life beyond their own time. From historical eras to everyday experiences, these perspectives highlight how the past continues to shape the way students view their present.

Graphic by Philip Berkwit