“...we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.” -Steve JobsSteve Jobs passed away this past week. He was a visionary, he co-founded Apple, he changed the world. And he was only 56 when he passed. His work touched millions of lives and changed the way that the world operates, from the iPod in your back pocket to the laptop that you work on. His life was cut short, but he accomplished more in those 56 years than most do in 100. At 21, most people are still in college, and a lucky few have any idea of what they want to do with their lives. But at 21, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple. He didn't waste a day of his life.
Life is fleeting. We all want to make a difference in our lifetime, but very few of us actually take that desire and make it a reality. I used to think that only some people were destined to make a big difference in the world, that it had a lot to do with who you know and just sheer luck. But Steve Jobs demonstrated to me that this isn't the case. He showed me that what it really takes is hard work, perseverance, and a dream. So what's stopping us from stepping up and changing the world? In all honesty, it's probably ourselves. We forget how short life is; we become preoccupied with everyday nuisances and don't remember the big picture. But what's the point of living if we don't make any difference at all? We don't need to become billionaires to make a difference. We don't need to be world famous, we don't need to create the next iPhone. We can change lives in our own communities.
We choose what we do with our lives. We may not always feel like we have control, but ultimately, we do get to choose. If you found out that you had one month to live, would you be happy with what you're doing? Would you feel confident that you had made your mark on the world? Steve Jobs may have only lived to be 56, but he lived a full life, and he clearly left a mark on the world. Life is short, and our lives are quickly passing. Make a difference. It's our choice, "So it better be damn good. It better be worth it."
Hannah, I really appreciate your idea that we can all make a difference. Sometimes I find myself stuck in what I think is a meaningless trance of school and homework and sleep to the point where it drives me mad. When I found out that Steve Jobs died, I was also shocked and humbled.
ReplyDeleteJust like you, people like Steve Jobs give me hope that my life means something and that I, too, can change the world. I don’t mean this to sound arrogant, rather it is meant to be optimistic. Looking back at all of the incredible things that Steve Jobs did for our society in 56 short years is uplifting and exciting. You could not have put it better when you explained how he has helped so many people. Someday, I hope to make an impact as well.
I love how you stated that we do not need to become billionaires to make a difference. I struggle with this idea every single day. Society often tells us that we need money to be successful. I define success as personal satisfaction with your life, so if changing the world is my idea of personal satisfaction, then I most certainly do not need to be a millionaire. Millions of people have reached their own personal goal of success without heaps of money.
As you said, we can change lives in our own communities, or in a way that does not involve money. Last week, we watched a presentation about the Invisible Children in Africa. Three college students changed the world just by creating an organization and fundraising. All of this was not-for-profit, and most likely thousands of lives have been saved because of these people.
I often forget that money is not everything. Steve Jobs changed the world with his parents’ garage and a dream. I completely agree with you; he was a great man. I’m so glad that you reflected on his life, because it has really helped me understand what we are all capable of as long as we have a goal and a vision.
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ReplyDeleteMs. Schiller,
ReplyDeleteAfter I read your piece, the first thing that came to mind was the Flaming Lips song "Do You Realize" which we listened to last year for English and the lyrics, "You realize that life goes fast/It's hard to make the good things last." It is indeed important to have visionaries such as Steve Jobs to remind us both of how much potential lies dormant within us, and how quickly the chance to utilize our potential can be snuffed out through disease or any other malady.
This is not to say that we all should be like Steve Jobs; I would in fact advise against living a life like Steve Jobs' since he mistreated his first wife and children and brought much misery to loved ones. Being an existentialist I believe that we create our own meaning in life, and that the most important thing is to follow through on this meaning. For me, the important thing to do in life, my way of making a difference, is to be happy without impinging on the happiness of others, and whenever possible proactively bringing light into others' lives. Of course, although I would not to live like Steve Jobs, that doesn't mean that his life philosophy precluded his being cruel to others: everyone's take on life is different.
From what you said Hannah, it seems like your take on life is much like mine; you don't need to become the next Steve Jobs, but what you feel you do need to do is make a difference in the community, make a difference in the lives of those you care about. It is wonderful that you express this sentiment in a world that too often apotheosizes money and prestige and all the nuances and nuisances that come with these things.
During freshman year's Our Town unit, when we first heard "Do You Realize," we were encouraged not to think about money and the trappings therein but the things that make us intrinsically happy. If you follow the path you are on Hannah, I see a future where you remain a happy person filled with verve. So go, live the life you want to in the short time we remain corporeal and upon this earth. Go, and may you never have any regret.