The Ups and Down of Learning to be Digitally Literate
I had an interesting and challenging few days this week trying to transfer a large audio file to someone else through Wetransfer. I’m not really familiar with this file-sharing program, but since the audio file was very large, I was told that this was the best and quickest method to use. Apparently, this should have been straightforward process, but it turned into a preoccupation and at least one sleepless night. Wetransfer couldn’t complete the process despite many attempts.
Then I tried uploading it to Google Drive, but that didn’t work either.
My self-talk was filled with self-criticisms such as, “What am I doing wrong. Why can’t I do this?”
I don’t like letting people down. That was my biggest concern, so I kept at it, trying again and again and again.
Ahhhhh!
I had been using a laptop that had been generously loaned to me, so I was prepared to bundle up and take my masked-self to the metro station and return the laptop back to the lender so that he could access the audio file directly from the source. However, I still needed to use the laptop with its access to an editing program which my own laptop doesn’t have.
So, with determination and a few naps to catch up on the lack of sleep, I used another approach. I saved the large audio file onto a memory stick and then saved it to the desk top of my own laptop, hoping all would be well. However, I still couldn’t get Wetransfer to successfully transfer the file. The next step was to upload the file to Google Drive from my laptop. I’m still a novice when it comes to cloud storage, and I really had little confidence that this was going to work.
So, I went for a walk rather than stay home and wait, watch, and wonder while the tiny uploading icon circled, taunting me with the promise of success. I had been through this waiting and wondering numerous times already over the past few days, so this was to be my final attempt before returning the laptop.
When I came back from my walk a couple of hours later, there were still two minutes before the upload would be complete, if it were to ever be complete. I again glanced reluctantly at the time indicator and I saw the words, SUCCESSFULLY UPLOADED. I did it! All that determination paid off. I was so happy, as was the person who had been patiently waiting for his audio file.
Karin