Reflections of a Scholar: Quantum Computing: The Real Technology Revolution No One Is Talking About

Imagine a computer so powerful it could solve problems that would take today’s machines centuries to crack. While headlines focus on artificial intelligence and its role in classrooms, another revolution is quietly approaching: quantum computing. Teachers warn students about AI, adults debate its impact, and teens use it daily for everything from writing essays to making music. But few realize that an even bigger shift in technology is already on the horizon, and almost no one is teaching it in high school.

If you ask the average high schooler what it is, you’ll likely hear 'time travel' or get a shrug. That shrug is a problem. That confusion isn’t their fault; it’s a warning sign. Big decisions about the future are being made using technology most students don’t even know exists.

So what is quantum computing? A normal computer, like your phone or laptop, works using tiny pieces of information called bits. A bit is either a 0 or a 1, - off or on. Every app, game, and website you use is built from billions of these tiny switches turning on and off.

Quantum computers work in a very different way. They use something called qubits. A qubit can be 0, 1, or both at the same time. Here’s an easy way to think about it: Imagine a mouse trapped in a big maze, trying to find the cheese. A regular computer is like a mouse that can only try one path at a time. It runs down one hallway, hits a wall, turns around, and then tries another path. It can move very fast, but it still has to test each path one by one until it finds the cheese. A quantum computer is like a magic mouse. Instead of choosing just one hallway, it can go down all the hallways at the same time. It instantly figures out which path leads to the cheese without checking each one separately. That’s why quantum computers can solve some problems much faster than regular computers, because they can explore many possibilities at once.

Real companies are already building quantum computers. IBM, one of the biggest tech companies in the world, has shared a roadmap showing how it plans to grow and improve quantum machines over the next few years. Scientists are already testing how quantum computers could help discover new medicines, create better materials, and improve clean energy like batteries and solar power.

Quantum computing also offers us opportunities to understand the world better. For example, climate change is very complicated. There are many moving parts, like weather, oceans, and pollution. Quantum computers could one day help scientists run better climate models and find smarter solutions to protect the planet.

But quantum computing also comes with serious risks. Right now, our private information is protected by secret codes called encryption. These codes keep our bank accounts, medical records, and messages safe. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, a U.S. government agency, warns that powerful quantum computers could eventually break many of these codes. That means hackers could steal information much more easily.

Because of this danger, experts at NIST are already working on new kinds of security called post-quantum cryptography. They are doing this now, not in the future. That tells us something important: quantum computing is coming faster than most people realize.

So why aren’t students learning about it? Some people say quantum computing is too hard to teach in high school. They think it is only for scientists and engineers. But learning about something doesn’t mean becoming an expert. Students learn about genetics without becoming doctors. They learn about the government without becoming politicians. Learning about quantum computing can be the same — basic ideas, not advanced math.

Research from MIT’s Teaching Systems Lab shows that when students learn about new and powerful technologies, they get better at thinking about fairness, ethics, and real-world problems. Learning early helps students ask better questions and make smarter choices later in life.

Other countries already understand this. International education programs shared by Quantum Delta NL show that countries like Canada and Australia have started teaching students about quantum technology. They know these skills will matter for future jobs and national security. Studies from the Brookings Institution also show that early lessons in new technology help make education more equal, so opportunity doesn’t only belong to students with special access.

New Jersey has a big chance to lead in this area. Building on the spirit of New Jersey STEM Month, our state has strong STEM schools, top research universities, and growing technology companies. By adding basic quantum literacy to high school classes, New Jersey could prepare students for future careers while also teaching them how to think responsibly about powerful tools.

Quantum computing is about people, choices, and fairness. If only a small group of experts understands these technologies, then only a small group will get to decide how they are used. Education should give everyone a chance to understand the future, not just live in it. 

If quantum computing is going to shape the world we grow up in, then students deserve to learn about it now.

Written by Manntram Patel, 2026 Scholar Manntram Patel is a junior at Cumberland Regional High School. He is class president, captain of the varsity boys swim team, and a national-level finalist in the Technology Student Association (TSA). Manntram has led community STEM outreach events and tutors local students in academics. He also teaches swim lessons and is active in service clubs including CAST, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), Interact, and the Leo Club. He was also selected for the Torch Leadership Society. His STEM interests include nuclear, mechanical, and aeronautical engineering, and he has experience in website development, coding in Python, and computer-aided design (CAD).