13% of Americans don’t use the internet. Until a few months ago, I was one of them.

[Commentary] It took me until 2016 to learn how to use the Internet and get my first smartphone, both at the age of 68. It may sound strange to you that I’ve gone this long without Internet access, but I’m not alone — studies show that 13 percent of Americans don’t use the Internet. Why did it take me so long to get online? The issue isn't that I didn't have easy access to an Internet connection. I live in Washington (DC), a big city with plenty of service providers and free Wi-Fi at the local Starbucks. Nor is it that I'm too old — yes, I'm a senior citizen, but I had plenty of opportunities in my younger years to get online. It's more complicated than any one reason.

The truth is I just never thought the Internet was for me. I never needed to learn it on the job working security in a correctional facility and at various DC government buildings. Overall, learning how to use the Internet has been a joyous experience for me.

[Marvia Applewhite lives in Washington, DC. Marvia learned how to use computers at Byte Back, a nonprofit that provides computer and career training to underserved DC residents. She hopes this article will encourage others her age to get educated and embrace and challenge the new world system instead of just settling.]