Time travel, a concept that has captured the human imagination for generations, continues to fascinate our imagination. To explore it, we asked Sentinel students the profound question: "What would you do with a time machine?" The responses, as varied as the students themselves, provide a window into the dreams and desires that reside within our school community.
One of our interviewees, a history enthusiast, expressed a very eager desire to witness significant moments in history firsthand. He envisioned traveling back to ancient civilizations, such as Egypt or Rome, to experience the daily life, culture, and customs of these remarkable societies. He thought the perks of time travel mainly lies in the opportunity to be able to connect our past and the present, being able to gain a deeper understanding of the events and people that have shaped the status quo.
Another student we talked to, on the other hand, was more excited by the prospect of altering his own personal history. He explicitly stated that he would like to use the time machine to correct past mistakes or make different choices that would lead to a more favorable outcome, even the most trivial things. This desire to rewrite the past reflects a common fancy of undoing regrets and improving one's circumstances, which highlights the universal human desire for redemption and second chances.
Meanwhile, another student, being a fan of science fiction, was captivated by the idea of traveling to the future. She envisioned witnessing technological advancements, such as flying cars and advanced robotics, and experiencing the societal changes that lie ahead but most importantly, how her life would be in the future. She, unlike the previous students, found no meaning from traveling to the past, but to gain knowledge in the future in order to start changing her behaviour in the present if necessary. For her, the appeal of time travel is centrally about the opportunity to be able to explore the possibilities of tomorrow and get a glimpse of the future that is both thrilling and unknown.
It's interesting to note that while each student had their own unique perspective on time travel, there were also areas of overlap in their responses. For example, the first two students we interviewed both expressed a desire to change the course of history, even though executed in different ways and for different purposes; one had a desire to witness historical events firsthand, while the other wanted to alter their personal history. This suggests a common theme of wanting to possess control over the past, whether to learn from it or to change it.
The diverse responses that came out of these series of interviews offer a glimpse into the rich collection of dreams and desires that drive our fascination with time travel. Whether it's a quest for knowledge, a desire to change the past, or a curiosity about the future, the fantasies of students at our school display the limitless nature of human imagination. While time travel may remain a fantasy for now, the dreams it inspires remind us of the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
