• As 2025 approaches, it's hard to believe it's been almost 25 years since the turn of the century.
• Famous songs like Bon Jovi's "It's My Life" and NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" were released in 2000.
• The camera phone and eHarmony are turning 25, too.

In the year 2000, no one could've predicted the impact Jennifer Lopez's green Versace dress, "American Psycho," or Coldplay would have on pop-culture history.

In the nearly 25 years since, Lopez has remained in the public eye, Austin Butler is set to star in an "American Psycho" remake, and Coldplay has gone on to release a slew of popular songs from "Viva la Vida" and "Clocks" to "A Sky Full of Stars."

Though the year 2000 may seem like it wasn't that long ago — especially with Gen Z's attempts to revive Y2K fashion — daily life looked significantly different: The average tank of gas cost $1.52, movie tickets cost $5.39, and Instagram was a decade from invention.

So, with 2025 just around the corner, here's a look back at some of the music, books, film, TV, tech, and newsworthy events that first captured our attention 25 years ago and have held on ever since.

NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye" was released on January 17, 2000.

In January 2000, boy band NSYNC released "Bye Bye Bye" as the lead single for their album "No Strings Attached."

The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, and the music video became a cultural phenomenon, staying in first place on "Total Request Live" for 25 days. It was even nominated for Video of the Year at MTV Video Music Awards.

Ricky Martin's hit single "She Bangs" is turning 25.

Twenty-five years ago, Ricky Martin released "She Bangs," and the single climbed the charts. It reached 12th place on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 18 weeks.

"I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack was also released 25 years ago.

When Lee Ann Womack released her country single "I Hope You Dance" in 2000, it became a hit. It reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and she earned a Country Music Association Award for single of the year.

Baha Men's "Who Let the Dogs Out" also turns 25 this year.

When Baha Men first released "Who Let the Dogs Out," it flopped, barely reaching the top 40. But slowly, the single gained popularity in the early 2000s, as the catchy lyrics and tune caught on.

Bon Jovi carried their career into the new decade with "It's My Life," released May 8, 2000.

In the '80s and '90s, Bon Jovi released massive hits like "Livin' on a Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name," but the band released another hit single in 2000: "It's My Life." The song eventually climbed to the top of the charts, carrying the band into another decade of success.

Coldplay's debut album, "Parachutes," was released in July 2000.

Bandmates Chris Martin, Will Champion, Jonny Buckland, and Guy Berryman released their debut studio album, "Parachutes," in July 2000 under the name Coldplay.

The album featured the song "Yellow," which remains a fan-favorite.

The fourth book in the "Harry Potter" series, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," was released in July 2000.

Following the success of her three other books in the "Harry Potter" series, JK Rowling published her fourth book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," in the summer of 2000.

In 2020, Screen Rant reported that the book has sold about 65 million copies, making it the second-most popular book in the series.

Twenty-five years since the book's release, the franchise is still extremely successful, with a film series, amusement rides at Universal Studios, a show on Broadway, and an upcoming TV series.

However, Rowling herself has been the subject of controversy in recent years.

It's been nearly 25 years since Julia Quinn released the first two books in the "Bridgerton" series, "The Duke and I" and "The Viscount Who Loved Me."

In the nearly 25 years since their release, Quinn's books have become the source material behind one of Netflix's most popular series to date: "Bridgerton."

The show, and its spinoff series, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story," attracted 189 million views in the first half of 2024, with season three of "Bridgerton" accounting for 92 million in less than two months following its releases in May and June.

Season four is currently in the works.

"Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts, came out in 2000.

"Erin Brockovich" is a biographical film about the real-life woman — played by Julia Roberts — who battled a California power company after it was accused of polluting a city's water. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture. Roberts took home the Oscar for best actress.

The movie "Almost Famous" is turning 25.

"Almost Famous" became a cultural juggernaut when it came out in 2000. The movie follows a high schooler who's writing an article for Rolling Stone about a new rock band.

It features an all-star cast, including Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, and Zooey Deschanel. The film went on to be nominated for four Academy Awards, but it only took home one for best original screenplay.

Christian Bale took on the iconic role of Patrick Bateman in "American Psycho," released in April 2000.

Twenty-five years ago, a then 26-year-old Christian Bale starred as Patrick Bateman, a banking exec who moonlights as a psychopathic killer, in "American Psycho." The movie quickly became a cult classic — in 2013, the film was even turned into a Broadway musical.

The first "Scary Movie" was released in July 2000.

In the summer of 2000, "Scary Movie" was released to parody the most popular horror films of the time, including "Scream," "Sixth Sense," and "The Blair Witch Project." It went on to be a success, launching Anna Faris' acting career and sparking multiple sequels.

In October 2024, Marlon, Shawn, and Keenan Wayans announced they're returning to the franchise for "Scary Movie 6."

It's been nearly 25 years since Russell Crowe played Maximus in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator."

In 2000, Russell Crowe starred as Maximus, a vengeful Roman general, in "Gladiator." The following year, the film was nominated 12 times at the Academy Awards, winning best picture. Crowe also took home the trophy for best actor.

Its sequel, "Gladiator II," was released in 2024 and starred Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Denzel Washington.

In August 2000, "Bring It On" was released.

In 2000, Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union starred as rival cheerleading captains Torrance and Isis in the hit teen movie "Bring It On."

The success of the film prompted several sequels in the following years.

"Survivor" made its debut in May 2000.

"Survivor" premiered on CBS on May 31, 2000. In the reality TV competition, strangers are placed in a remote and isolated location, then they have to find food and shelter, while also competing in challenges.

Each contestant is voted off the island one by one until there's only one standing survivor. That person wins $1 million. Over the last 25 years, "Survivor" has had 47 seasons, all of which have been hosted by Jeff Probst.

Another CBS show, "Big Brother," also debuted 25 years ago.

After "Survivor," CBS premiered another hit reality competition show in July 2000: "Big Brother."

The series follows a group of strangers who are forced to live together in a house while under constant surveillance. They compete in challenges and, in the end, one person wins $500,000.

Through the years, the show became increasingly popular, prompting spin-offs like "Celebrity Big Brother." So far, there have been 26 seasons, all hosted by Julie Chen Moonves.

The world's first camera phone was introduced 25 years ago.

Although camera phones are common today, the first phone for sale with a camera was released in 2000. The phone was called J-SH04, and it had just a 0.1-megapixel resolution.

A 2002 version of the J-Phone is pictured above.

The popular dating website eHarmony launched in 2000.

Before there was Tinder or Bumble, clinical psychologist Dr. Neil Clark Warren created eHarmony, a website designed to help you meet your perfect match.

The site initially had users answer more than 450 questions to help them better enter long-term relationships. Since then, the site has cut down its questions, but remained one of the top online dating services. In 2017, for example, eHarmony had 750,000 paid subscribers and 10 million active users.

The first "The Sims" game is turning 25, too.

The popular computer game, "The Sims," made its debut on February 4, 2000, and since then, the franchise has sold 200 million game copies, according to The Washington Post.

One of the most recent editions of the game, "The Sims 4: Life and Death," was released on October 31, 2024.

The teen clothing brand Hollister opened in 2000.

In 2000, Abercrombie & Fitch launched a new brand called Hollister, geared toward teenagers. The clothing store markets itself as laid-back attire, inspired by California's relaxed lifestyle.

Today, there are more than 500 Hollister stores worldwide.

2025 will also be the 25th anniversary of Jennifer Lopez's iconic sheer green Versace dress.

In a February 2024 "Life in Looks" interview with Vogue, Lopez said that her stylist at the time, Andrea Lieberman, asked her not to wear the dress.

"My stylist was like, 'Please don't wear it. Somebody else has worn it,''" Lopez said, adding, "I was like, 'Well, you bought it, and it looks the best, so I'm going to wear it.' And so I did. And it caused quite a stir."

Lopez isn't wrong — the world has her and that dress to thank for Google Image Search, according to former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

It's also the 25th anniversary of the 2000 World Series — dubbed the "Subway Series" — as the Yankees took on the Mets.

In the end, the Yankees became champions, winning its third consecutive World Series four games to one.

Venus Williams will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of her first Wimbledon women's singles final win.

At just 20 years old, Venus Williams lifted the Wimbledon trophy for the first time in her career after defeating Lindsay Davenport.

Williams went on to win the Wimbledon singles' trophy four more times. She also has won six Wimbledon doubles titles.

It's been 25 years since the legendary 2000 presidential election, which ended with a Supreme Court case.

Twenty-five years later, it's easy to forget how close the 2000 presidential election was.

Democratic nominee Al Gore and Republican nominee George W. Bush went head to head, but on election night, it was unclear who won.

With the votes so close in Florida, the state ordered a recount. After a slew of legal fights around the recount in Florida, the Supreme Court decided that the initial results would be counted, giving Bush the election. He won by a .009% margin, or 537 votes.

The International Space Station is also celebrating a 25-year milestone: Its first live-in crew arrived in 2000.

Although President Ronald Reagan ordered NASA to build the International Space Station in 1984, it wasn't until 2000 that people actually lived on it.

Bill Shepherd, Yuri Gidzenko, and Sergei Krikalev became the first three to reside on the ISS and live there for several months. Since then, more than 270 people from over 20 countries have visited the ISS, according to NASA.

Mexico is launching a smartphone app that allows Mexican migrants to warn relatives and instantly alert the nearest consulate if U.S. immigration agents detain them, officials said Friday.

Why it matters: The announcement came as part of a broad warning from the administration of Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum that the nation will defend the human rights of Mexican citizens in the U.S. amid President-elect Trump's mass deportation plans.

Zoom in: Mexico Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente said at a press conference that the "emergency notification" app will go live in January.

• "I have personally attended several open meetings where the key message is to tell our fellow citizens that they are not alone and will not be alone," De la Fuente said.

Zoom out: De la Fuente said Mexico's "Know Your Rights" program will be part of a rapid response to possible enforcement scenarios or "other intimidating actions."

• Mexico's legal protection program includes 329 legal advisors at all 53 consulates in the U.S., along with voluntary support from consultants and law firms across the country, he said.

State of play: Trump has said his mass deportation plan will likely include U.S. citizens who are the children of undocumented immigrants and the erection of new detention camps around the country.

• More than two dozen Republican governors also said that they'll use "state law enforcement or the National Guard" to help with mass deportation, raising alarm from advocacy groups.

The intrigue: Mexico is encouraging all Mexican citizens with children born in the U.S. to register them with the consulates.

• "Not everyone has done this yet. We strongly encourage everyone to register with our consulates as this enables us to provide legal protection when needed," De la Fuente said.

Reality check: These mass deportations will also likely encounter several procedural roadblocks, and the estimated $150 billion to $350 billion cost of executing them is steep.

• Currently, the U.S. does not have enough holding cells to house millions of people placed in deportation proceedings.
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) tells Axios that temporary holding centers will likely be inhumane and poorly built and the group plans on monitoring them.

Flashback: Trump said last month he spoke to Sheinbaum about stopping migration into the U.S.

• Trump said in a Truth Social post that he had "a wonderful conversation" with Sheinbaum, claiming she "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States, effectively closing our Southern Border."
• In a statement, Sheinbaum said she and Trump discussed Mexico's strategy on migration and that she told him Central American caravans are not arriving at the northern border as they're being taken care of in Mexico.

The bottom line: Any mass deportations would entail expelling people into Mexico, which would draw pushback because it'd overwhelm the country's capacity to manage the flow.

• My husband and I went from the US to Berlin for a work opportunity two years ago.
• Renting in Berlin was incredibly difficult, and the city would get a bit too packed with tourists.
• We moved south to Dresden and have been so happy with its greenery, architecture, and nightlife.

Two years ago, my husband and I (along with our two cats) made the big move from Massachusetts to Berlin for a work opportunity.

We were excited to live in a capital city for the first time, as we'd always resided in the suburbs around Boston. Although the German city was beautiful, we had a tough time living there.

In February, we left Berlin and moved about two hours south to Dresden. It's been one of the best decisions we've made since arriving in Germany.

Here are a few things that pushed out of Berlin, plus a few ways Dresden really won us over.

Rent in Berlin skyrocketed, and finding housing became incredibly competitive

Berlin is known to be fairly affordable, especially compared to other European capitals like Paris or Amsterdam.

Still, over the last few years, it's become one of the most expensive cities for renters in Germany as housing costs have gone up.

Many projects to build more housing have been placed on hold as renters struggle to find apartments — the German capital had a vacancy rate of less than 1% as of 2023.

We've had far better luck finding a place to live in Dresden, probably because it's not a major city. Rental prices have also been more affordable for us.

Dresden gets less crowded with tourists

Berlin is one of the most visited cities in Europe, attracting millions of visitors each year. While we lived there, popular areas like Alexanderplatz, Brandenburg Gate, and Museum Island appeared to be constantly bustling with tourists.

During peak travel seasons, this led to overcrowded trains, buses, and trams along with delays for regular commuters like us.

In comparison, Dresden draws millions fewer visitors a year. We still get some tourists (particularly for its famous Christmas markets) but at a smaller volume.

Plus, since we can now afford to live in the city center, we can walk to most places and avoid crowded public transit and traffic congestion.

Dresden offers us better access to nature — and its architecture is beautiful

As nature lovers, we appreciate the green spaces and large parks in Berlin, but they don't compare to what we have in Dresden.

More than half of our city is covered in green spaces and forests. We love the beautiful Elbe River, which goes right through Dresden.

Plus, we're only about an hour from the gorgeous Saxon Switzerland (Saxony) National Park — a trip there could take about three hours from Berlin.

We also have access to paved paths along the river for biking, plus many beautiful hiking trails.

The city holds its own when it comes to architectural ambiance, too. While Berlin has many impressive landmarks, Dresden is also renowned for its architecture and cultural monuments, like Zwinger Palace and the Saxon State Opera.

We especially enjoy walking through its Old City to admire the intricate and opulent buildings with lavish sculptures and terraced gardens.

Berlin has a famous nightlife scene, but Dresden's is a better fit for us

Berlin's nightlife is legendary and filled with variety, especially compared to what you might find in Dresden.

Its techno clubs like Berghain and Sisyphos draw in international crowds with their parties and long opening hours — some go entire weekends without closing.

We're not big club people, so we prefer Dresden's laid-back bars and slightly quieter nightlife scene. Our smaller city has fewer clubs, and many of the ones we have feel more intimate.

Overall, we're happy with our choice to move

Dresden has been more affordable than Berlin, and our access to nature and stunning architecture has blown us away.

It feels like home to us now, and we're happier living in such a beautiful city.

• I've lived in Miami for more than six years, and the area has so much to offer visitors.
• As a Miami local, I enjoy exploring the culture and history in Little Haiti and Liberty City.
• North Miami Beach has some great outdoor activities, but South Beach can get crowded.

Miami is one of the most popular vacation spots in the United States, and for good reason.

Its proximity to the tropics ensures warm weather almost any day of the year, and Dade County's eastern border has miles of coastline.

Plus, there's so much more to experience in Miami than expensive cabanas, parties, and Cuban food, especially if you want to support local social, cultural, and economic diversity,

Having lived here for over six years, here are some of my favorite parts of Dade to visit — and one you may want to skip.

Immerse yourself in culture in Little Haiti.

Before moving to Miami, I didn't realize Southern Florida was home to such a large Haitian and Haitian-American population.

If you're unaware like I was, do yourself a favor and spend a day immersing yourself in Little Haiti. Stroll through the Little Haiti Cultural, Complex, soak in the neighborhood's murals, and eat some pikliz and Haitian patties.

Be sure to stop into Libreri Mapou, a bookstore that sells French and Creole titles year-round. Or, if you're a literary enthusiast, plan your trip in the spring so you can swing by the Little Haiti Book Festival, which has tons of booksellers, authors, and more.

Allapattah has some incredible Dominican food.

You'll know you're officially in Allapattah when you see lampposts and street corners adorned with signs depicting alligators.

"Allapattah" is the Seminole word for "alligator," and the name stuck even though these reptiles mostly live in the Everglades now.

It's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami, and many locals consider it one of the best places to order Dominican food in Dade. Club Tipico Dominicano is a popular pick.

Plus, Allapattah is home to Rubell Museum and SuperBlue, two destinations where you can enjoy a renowned art scene.

Liberty City and Brownsville have some of the city's best-preserved African American history.

Liberty City and Brownsville are historic neighborhoods within Miami.

Take a step back in time when you visit the Historic Hampton House in Brownsville, a converted hotel that once hosted the likes of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Then, stop into the Joseph Caleb Auditorium or the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center to enjoy a local show from some of the neighborhood's most talented performers.

Finally, end your day by ordering food from some of Liberty City's best restaurants, like World Famous Theo's Seafood and Pasta or World Famous Rib Shack.

There's a lot to do in Downtown Miami.

Situated on Biscayne Bay, Downtown Miami is an expansive neighborhood bustling with activities.

This part of the city technically includes Brickell, Miami's Financial District, but I want to focus on all the attractions just north of the Miami River.

This part of Miami is one of the few walkable places in the city, so ditch your car and spend time on foot or exploring via the free Metromover.

Definitely take time to explore HistoryMiami Museum, Frost Museum of Science, Pérez Art Museum, and Bayside Marketplace.

Stay in the county but leave the city with a visit to North Miami and North Miami Beach.

North Miami and North Miami Beach technically aren't part of the City of Miami, but they're part of Miami-Dade County and worth a visit on your next vacation.

Outdoor activities are popular in these areas. If you have a day to spend in nature, hike or kayak through Oleta River State Park.

Alternatively, if you only have a few hours to spend here, drop by Greynolds Park or the Ancient Spanish Monastery to enjoy an afternoon surrounded by sun and palm trees.

Consider skipping South Beach.

Similar to North Miami, South Beach isn't technically in the City of Miami. It's part of Miami Beach, the official name for the city that lies just to the right of Miami proper.

You have to cross one of Dade's many bridges to get to Miami Beach, and South Beach is one of the most popular parts of the beach you can visit.

If you've never been to Miami, by all means, pass through South Beach. Its beaches, architecture, and nightlife are famous for a reason.

However, I don't think it's the best beach in Dade. From a resident's perspective, South Beach often gets too crowded, and the amenities aren't as nice as you can find on other stretches of sand.

Plus, parking is expensive on South Beach. Whether you want to book a hotel on Ocean Drive or spend a day on the sand, expect to pay a decent chunk of change.

If you're looking for something quieter, try North Beach or Hollywood instead.

• Business Insider asked travel planners what destinations they think will be popular next year.
• South Asian countries Sri Lanka and Bhutan are catching more people's eyes.
• If you want a more unique European vacation, plan a trip to Slovenia.

Whether you travel frequently or once a year, it can be difficult to determine which places are worth visiting.

To help you narrow down your list (or discover something new), Business Insider asked travel planners about the more under-the-radar destinations their clients are asking about for 2025.

Here's what they said.

Sri Lanka is a bucket-list-worthy destination.

Kimberly Denison, a Virtuoso travel advisor and the founder of Denison Travel, said more people are setting their sights on Sri Lanka.

The South Asian country is home to a plethora of beaches and rainforests, making it easy for travelers to explore the scenery through engaging activities like hikes or surfing sessions.

"Most people don't realize how geographically diverse Sri Lanka is and that it makes it a wonderful destination for folks who enjoy having a wide range of scenery and experiences without extensive amounts of travel in between," she told BI.

Istria is making a name for itself with high-quality cuisine.

Although the Dalmatian Coast is typically top of mind in Croatia, Molly Arena, a luxury travel advisor at Fora, said to keep an eye on Istria.

The region, located on a northwest peninsula of Croatia — which also shares land with Italy and Slovenia — has everything from medieval towns to beautiful beaches to explore. However, it's perhaps best known for its offerings for foodies.

"Rising interest in culinary travel fits perfectly with Istria's offerings of truffles, olive oil, and wine," she told BI.

It's also a nice alternative to the often crowded European regions of Tuscany in Italy and Provance in France.

Bhutan's decreased tourism tax is enticing.

Bhutan, a small country bordering India and Tibet, offers adventurous activities like river rafting excursions, hot-stone baths, and hiking trails. However, Rochelle Hathaway, a travel advisor at Fora, said the destination is also known for its tranquil atmosphere.

One of the highlights of the country is its dzongs, which are fortified monasteries with intricate architecture.

Some countries charge tourists a fee to visit and access local amenities, stores, restaurants, and accommodations. That's true for Bhutan, but in recent years, the country has decreased its tax rate from $200 a day to $100 a day.

Hathaway predicts this will help to attract more tourists in the new year.

Some tourists headed to Indonesia are skipping Bali and heading to Java instead.

Lael Kassis, the vice president of marketing innovation and development at EF Go Ahead Tours, said she's seeing more clients booking trips to the Indonesian island of Java.

"Travelers are slowly discovering there is a lot more to Indonesia than just Bali," he told BI. "The Island of Java — filled with culture, history, and volcanoes — is just a quick trip from Bali and easy to combine when traveling."

In particular, Kassis said, the Borobudur Temple and Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park are sites attracting tourists to Java.

Uruguay is a vibrant destination for tourists.

Arena told BI that Uruguay is a hot spot for art and culture.

"There are many museums and galleries to choose from throughout the Punta del Este, Montevideo, and Colonia del Sacramento regions in Uruguay, in addition to renowned art and film festivals such as Este Arte, Montevideo Art Festival, and the José Ignacio International Film Festival," she said.

The historic quarter in Colonia del Sacramento is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beyond that, though, the country is also known for its beautiful beaches.

"Uruguay has one of the world's best beach resorts in José Ignacio, often likened to the Hamptons," she said.

Slovenia seems likely to attract outdoorsy tourists.

Travelers are increasingly seeking destinations where they feel they can do and see it all. Because of that, Denison anticipates a boom in Slovenia tourism within the next year.

Slovenia is fairly small but also geographically diverse, making it easier for visitors to see a lot of the country — and its many different landscapes — in a short period of time.

"Boasting mountains, lakes, vineyards, and the Adriatic Sea all in a compact and uncrowded setting, it offers the kind of exclusive, personalized experiences that today's travelers crave," she said.

• One Georgia high school has gone all-in on artificial intelligence.
• Students at Seckinger High School learn math, science, English, and history through an AI lens.
• Teachers say students are more engaged and better prepared for the jobs of the future.

Prior to joining the faculty at Seckinger High School, art teacher Megan Fowler's only experience with anything even resembling artificial intelligence was a single graphic design class in college.

But as her teaching career progressed, "I just felt like what I was teaching was not necessarily applicable to students' future careers," she told Business Insider.

Now, Fowler, who is in her 13th year of teaching, uses AI every day. Whether she's teaching students how to use large language models like ChatGPT as an artistic thought partner, introducing kids to the ethical considerations of generative art, or spearheading AI-centered professional development content for fellow teachers, Fowler has fully submitted to the power of machine learning.

Seckinger High School, located in Gwinnett County, Georgia, opened its doors in August 2022, right as AI went big. The public school, with an enrollment of about 2,000 students, operates like any other public school in Georgia's largest school district, with one critical distinction: Students at Seckinger learn all the standard fare — math, science, English, and social studies — via an AI-embedded educational experience.

With outside help from tech partners and community collaborators, including Google and Microsoft, as well as higher ed experts and school district leaders, Gwinnett County Public Schools created an "AI-ready" framework for Seckinger students, replete with six components ranging from technical proficiency to ethics, said Sallie Holloway, director of artificial intelligence and computer science at the district.

"Our students are making connections to their future that is not as common in other schools," Holloway said.

Teachers and administrators at the school see it as their responsibility to prepare students for the jobs of the future, many of which will require advanced knowledge of AI, four Seckinger educators told BI.

And it's an approach that is likely to pay off, according to education experts.

Bree Dusseault, managing director at the Center for Reinventing Education, cited an Institute for the Future statistic that approximately 85% of the jobs that will be available in 2030 don't yet exist.

"So, how do we build a school system that is helping prepare our students for this new future?"

How it works

Seckinger staff members explain the school's AI approach using a water-based metaphor. Students can choose to swim, snorkel, or scuba dive in the oceans of AI.

"We like to say that all of our kids are swimming in AI," said teacher Jason Hurd, who heads the AI career and technical education pathway at Seckinger. "They are exposed to it, have access to it, see it integrated into their lessons across all content areas at school."

Next are the snorkelers, students who want to dive a bit deeper into the tech. They might take an AI elective class or join the robotics team.

Scuba divers, meanwhile, are the students who opt to enroll in the school's AI pathway, which immerses students to the nuanced mechanics of AI via three advanced courses. These students finish high school prepared to go into a specific field involving AI, Hurd said.

AI integration at Seckinger looks very different depending on the class, subject, and teacher.

For example, Scott Gaffney, a social studies teacher, uses AI to teach students historical problem-solving. In one instance, Gaffney presented students with an outbreak of cholera in 1854 London and asked them to use AI to map the spread via dot distribution. The students then used AI to analyze the data and pinpoint the nexus of the outbreak to a specific street, he told BI.

"Gen Z processes information way faster than previous generations," Gaffney said. "It's fun to present them with a challenge and task them to use AI to get the solution."

Hurd's AI pathway course covers everything from programming to applied reasoning to ethics.

"I tell students that some days it will feel like a math class, some days it will like a philosophy class, some days it will feel like a history class," Hurd said.

How it's working so far

The school, which is currently in its third year of operations, is still in pilot mode as the district waits to see what aspects of Seckinger's AI approach are ready to scale and share across the rest of the 142-school system, Holloway said.

But the anecdotal results thus far have been overwhelmingly positive, educators said.

"Kids aren't skipping class as much and there's a genuine interest in how teachers are teaching this content," Holloway said. "It's not a magic bullet, but they really are seeing an increase in engagement."

It helps that students at Seckinger generally feel like they know why they're learning something and how it might help them down the line, teachers said.

While there was some early community skepticism around Seckinger's AI concept, educators said that parent attitudes have done a 180 in the last three years.

"Parents want their kids to go here, and kids want to be here," Fowler said.

Still in its infancy, the school has yet to graduate a cohort that spent a full four years at Seckinger. Hurd, who runs the AI pathway, said he's gotten great feedback from former students who have gone on to enroll at Georgia Tech. Similarly, Fowler said she's seen some students go on to study digital art or user experience after graduating from Seckinger.

Looking to the future

Part of the fun — and challenge — for Seckinger teachers is staying up-to-date with the rapidly evolving technology. When the district first began discussing the idea behind Seckinger in 2019, ChatGPT had yet to be released. Today, it has over 180 million users.

"Algebra has always been algebra and will be forever," Hurd said. "But the field of AI is constantly changing.

While some schools and districts are taking a hard-line approach to dealing with AI in education — banning tools like ChatGPT or Gemini from school servers — Seckinger staff are excited to see how their students can use AI to one day change the world.

"There were once things called Google and Wikipedia that people thought would ruin education," Gaffney said. "They haven't. They've actually sharpened our future leaders."

• After 20 years, my husband blindsided me and said he wanted a divorce.
• Facing a future I never imagined, I booked a solo trip to Belgium, which ignited a new love of travel.
• Since then, I've traveled to 21 countries, embracing new adventures and discovering new joys.

"My soul is deeply unhappy. I want a divorce." He said abruptly, with no softening of the hammer he'd just dropped.

My husband of nearly 20 years dumped me unceremoniously on an otherwise unremarkable Friday evening in January. We'd spent the day together, running errands and sharing fries at lunch. Sitting down to dinner in our dining room, I'd asked if he was okay. He'd been distant lately, but I hadn't seen this coming.

The day after he left, I was on my friend's couch sobbing until I couldn't breathe, while she rubbed my back. "What do you want your next chapter to look like?" She asked.

I didn't know what kind of music I liked, let alone how to rewrite a life whose chapters had long been written. For years, I'd let my daughter or husband choose the soundtrack while I rode along, abandoning myself to the roles of wife and mother. When we divorced, I didn't just lose my marriage, my co-parent, my "person," I lost the roadmap to the future we'd planned so diligently, together.

"I don't know," I told my friend. "I think I want to travel." But I'd never traveled alone, and I didn't know if I was brave enough to do it as a 50 year old single woman.

The timing was actually right

The divorce came at personal trifecta: I had no job, my daughter's enrollment in boarding school left barren the nest I'd feathered, and I was turning 50. Soon after, I returned to the workforce as a school administrator. My job anchored me.

With Thanksgiving approaching, I faced five and a half days alone, as my soon-to-be ex-husband had our daughter for the holiday. Hands shaking, I booked a plane ticket. My destination criteria: flight time under eight hours and $700 and a country I hadn't visited. I flew to Belgium.

In Brussels, I wandered cobblestone streets bedecked with hanging greens and Christmas lights, watching as workers erected a huge tree at La Grand-Place. I sampled buttery chocolate from artisanal shops and salty frites from stands whose windows opened to the street. I daytripped to Bruges and took a self-guided walking tour along the charming canals. As I wandered, a veil of contentment draped itself over the ache of this lonely holiday.

A new year, a new adventure

The following Thanksgiving, alone again and with the same criteria, I traveled to Portugal. On a food tour, I sampled savory salt cod mixed with mashed potatoes; creamy, custardy, pasteis de nada tarts; and ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur infused with cinnamon. I took trains to the Seussical-like Pena Palace in Sintra, and to Porto, where I learned how port wine was made. Navigating train schedules and solo dining slowly flexed a growing travel muscle.

Traveling made me feel empowered

Over time, I grew braver, traveling further afield, eventually finding myself in Kathmandu, Nepal for a writing workshop. There, among marigold leis and prayer beads, I met a community of creatives who became close friends. As we walked in meditation around the watchful eyes of Boudhanath Stupa, in step with the Tibetan Buddhists who held it sacred, I felt at peace for the first time since the breakup.

In the six years since my husband left me, I've traveled to 21 countries and my 50s look nothing like I'd imagined they would. I've bathed in thermal baths in Budapest, floated down the Mekong River in Laos, hot-air ballooned above the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia and foraged for cloudberries in Finland. I've found my footing in the world, choosing adventures he wouldn't have favored. I'm grateful for my divorce. From the wreckage, arose a life more robust and fulfilling than I'd ever dreamed possible.