talk about first world problems. we’re materialistic beings. into frivolous objects that make our eyes sparkle, we want things others who are less fortunate have. we complain about christmas and birthdays when others only want shelter. we’ve become less of an altruistic society and more of a selfish one. in those instances that we do donate, we donate to lost causes or causes which we’ve been pressured to donate to.
what kind of society have we become?
(Source: baldwinchang)
“Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish,” adopted by the late Steve Jobs from the Whole Earth Catalog, describes the lifestyle that has developed over my life. At its core, the quote signifies that curiosity extends our continual craving to understand and grasp the unknown. However, it is equally important to be able to see from multiple perspectives, from either a beginner’s or a master’s viewpoint. In essence, this quote embodies the most influential, yet basic idea of making the most out of every opportunity.
As I grew up, the principle of making the most out of each situation has become an integral part of my life. When I broke my parent’s first computer, an interest in technology flourished. And if I never transitioned from private to public school, I doubt that I would have gained an interest in science. Joining the scouts allowed me to have a sense of discovery and understanding. Even the, admittedly hubris-endowed, decision of dropping out of public school led me to the understanding that maintaining social context is a necessity. Taking chemistry and having the opportunity to work with an amazing teacher has catalyzed the relationship between passion and potential. Without these opportunities, the person who I am today would be non-existent. More opportunities avail themselves as a result of other opportunities, including the chance to apply to Stanford.
Steve Jobs once said hardware was equally important as software. His attitude extended to intuition and rationalization, to innovation and execution, and from birth to death. In his Stanford commencement speech in 2005, he had an inquiry for those attending to ask themselves, “if today were the last day of my life, would I do what I am about to do today?” And if the answer was no for too many days in succession, Jobs urged to bring ourselves to action: action to take that extra step or mile, even if it exceeds expectations. This is what matters to me. To me, this means carpe diem; to always seize the day.
It’s been ten months since I last brought up this topic. Once you’re entranced in a vicious cycle of thought, there is no way out. The never-ending arguments that go on within our minds, the thought-provoking questions, and the infamous regret and remorse, are all things we put ourselves through.
Whether that may be about a girl, boy, an action you regret, or the last test you took, we often find ourselves stuck and paralyzed feeling unable to release ourselves from constraints of our own mind. It’s almost sickening to hear the constant backlash between two contrasting thoughts.
“Why did I do it? Maybe it was okay? I was right. No, I was wrong.”
It seems that being alone only enhances the effect of these volatile thoughts. We’re secluding ourselves from outside influences that allow us to make rational thoughts. It’s unhealthy and very potent to keep ourselves away from advice. We just can’t function if we’re isolated. We need people. We need friends. We need companions.
If we lose these connections, then what is the purpose of living? We want to share happy thoughts, and we do so constantly through nu-media outlets such as twitter, facebook, and tumblr. But why don’t we want to share the bad? Keeping it bottled away is only detrimental to the human psyche. And we’re just idiots because we’re sensitive of how others perceive us. It’s saddening because we see it all the time.
We see people become depressed and more-and-more isolated. We also see ourselves wanting to help these people, but we feel just as bad as the next person. Yet, that’s a good thing. We’re all human beings and we understand each other. We want to help other people because we can relate to them.
The only thing hurting ourselves is ourselves.
Hmmm… the quote above really speaks to me. Teachers should get to the point to inspire others because if they cannot, students will continue to always misunderstand and not feel the complete need to understand. Chemistry is a subject that always seems to separate those who are inspired and those who are not inspired. You can easily be told all of General Chemistry and not be taught the content, the teacher could explain the content and not demonstrate the explanation, the teacher could demonstrate but what good does any of these methods do if the student is not inspired?
Inspiration to strive for the torchlight is very important because I feel inspired when I learn, but many others do not feel the same way as I do. Chemistry is one of the easiest classes I have ever encountered, but to be able to apply it is a different story. You need the dedication to want to learn, and if that is skewed, you will not feel the same way. Teachers that inspire would also be the ones that want to provide a solid foundation.
Mr. Swift is a superior teacher, but a great teacher in many people’s books. Mr. Swift is my Chemistry teacher and he really tries to inspire young minds.
