Value of Life and the Future of Technology

So, somewhat ironically, I helped someone realize a value in living a week or so ago.  I don't feel comfortable in saying why it's ironic, but I guess it is important to know that it is.

It was a fifteen year old kid that on top of going through some of the most awkward and defining years of his life, was taking depression pills and really only had one true friend and he felt as though he was ruining their relationship.  I did realize that he was extremely likely he would have been the kid that I would have called weird in high school, completely misunderstood, and overall avoided.  I do realize too though that it is going to be next to impossible to expect high school students to ever get completely along, and there will always be that those few people who don't quite get in with the rest of the high school students.

That's not really the point however, the point is getting him to the next period in life where he will realize that the judgment in high school just doesn't matter anymore.  I wasn't an disliked person in high school by any means, but I certainly had some social anxiety.  Coming to college made me realize that high school just simply does not matter at all.  I barely keep in touch with anyone and have made a lot of amazing college friends.

Still, my challenge in talking to this kid was "what do I say?"  I have a hard time finding how to value my own life, how I am supposed to help this depressed, socially awkward and anxious kid?  At first we just simply talked about what was going on in his life, does he see a counselor, how do antidepressants work for him... then I asked him what his life goals were.

"None."

Admittedly, that took me aback. No matter what, I have always had some kind of goal to hold onto.  To travel somewhere, to have a kid, have a husband, have a lot of books.  I had originally intended on holding onto these goals and pushing them forward, but with a statement like that... I didn't know what to do.

Eventually, after me asking him more questions and talking some, he asked me what keeps me going everyday.  I told him a few things like my goals, traveling - and none excited him.  If anything, I feared that they depressed him even more.  Goals come with stresses that he wouldn't even care about if he were dead, he didn't like airplanes.

Out of the blue, I decided to go into what I am currently studying: science, technology and society.  The future progression of humans, our technology and science achievements, and how they are exponentially growing.  I introduced him to today's great minds such as Ray Kurzweil and their ideas, like the Heaven Scenario.  If I were able to actually see him, I think I would have seen his face lit up.  I immediately noticed a change, a suddenly more positive person.

The future is exciting.

The future is exciting... that idea is what brought him out of a rather major rut in his life.  So, if you are having an especially bad day, finding that life is pointless... well... look forward to the future.  There is a lot coming that may blow your mind, and don't you want to stick around to see it all happen?

There are many people who believe we will be able to reach a point within my generation's lifetime where age and all diseases will be cured.  We may be able to live an almost indefinite period of time.

There are others who believe we will destroy ourselves.

Either way, the future is worth sticking around for.  Your life is almost meaningless in the largeness of things - but I don't believe that is bad.  We are one of the first generations who really are able to understand the vastness of the universe and what tiny part we make of it.  We are one of the first generations to break out of the idea of limitations, and instead know that we really don't know everything.  Something new is created almost everyday now,  and I think we have reached the fast curve of technology's exponential change.

The point I made in the graph that says "we are here" shows that we have reached that time frame when technological change will go extraordinarily fast.  At least in my opinion anyways, but I think that others would agree with me.  Imagine what has come out in our lifetime alone - computers, PC's, laptops, PDA's, portable game systems, disks, hard drives, SSD's, smart phones, tablets, and now Google's Project Glass and MIT's SixthSense.  These things will certainly become the norm soon - just as smartphones did.   Sit back for a moment.  Massive, room-filling computers and Google's Project Glass will both have taken place in society within my generation's lifetime.  Not even just my lifetime, but probably before I graduate from school.  I still have the majority of my life left.

I cannot imagine what could possibly come after Project Glass or SixthSense, but I am sensible enough to know that there will be something.

The future, again, is exciting.  Look forward to it.

Almost as a side note, if you are unhappy... always remember you don't have to be.  You are entire control of your life, do what you want to do.

Well I've Changed My Life Goals... Again...

As some of you may know, my life goals seem to change a lot, and I want to relieve you of this misconception. Each time I find something I'm interested in, I test it out.  Is this the right thing for me?  Is this something I could picture myself doing for the rest of my life? Some may sound more definitive than others, but I think that's simply a part of finding out what I want to do.

Well, last week I had one of those moments.  I had gotten to a point where I realized that what my current goals were were not likely going to make me happy - even though they would make others incredibly happy.  I had wanted to go into international development, which I still think is a worthy cause, but I had gotten so wrapped up in my ability to do research and help a cause abroad that I didn't stop to think whether or not it would really make me happy.

So, I was talking to Kyle, complaining about people complaining (yes, I entirely see the irony in that) and how what I was doing was not making me happy.  I mean seriously, I love my experiences, but getting to them can be the biggest pain and you wonder if it's at all worth it.  In a moment of anger, self-pity, and complete selfishness I exclaimed, "All I want to do in life is either work at a dog shelter or be a librarian because I like dogs and I like books."

Immediately afterwards I said, damn it brain... you would come up with an awesome idea.  A librarian?  How perfect!  I love working with a variety of people and helping others pick out books or with new technology if they are willing to learn (which, a lot of libraries are getting into).  I love researching things for others, I currently do it for jobs for several of my friends.

Not to mention I LOVE BOOKS.

I was pretty determined to talk myself out of it, however... I had my life plan all set! So I said to myself, "Rachel - the pay SUCKS."  So, I looked up the pay... and it's the same if I were going forward with my original life plan.  Okay, so I can't concern myself about pay.

The second thing I said to myself was that the job outlook has to be poor.  Originally, when I researched job outlook, it was fantastic.  Now, looking more into it, it says it's not as great.  But reading more and more into it... it seems to be the same success/failure rate as just about any other career... the people who get butthurt over not finding a job are simply just louder.  So, that's pretty average too, and I think I'm a pretty above average person (amiright?) so, I'll take my chances.

So, right now, I want to be a librarian.  Will that change?  Maybe... but if I'm going to change it, I better do it now while I have the chance.

So you know, if you're unsure about what you want to do, explore options.  I know I will be grateful in the long run that I did.

Building Bridges: Strengthening Leadership for Diverse Communities

I recently attended a leadership development course at my school called "Building Bridges: Strengthening Leadership for Diverse Communities."  Generally, small classes like these are dreaded due to the standard cringing class layout and where no one speaks up causing the speaker to stare at everyone blankly and expectantly every few minutes before they become embarrassed and move on.  Often, these classes have already been pounded into my head - I am fully aware of the importance of diversity and have been told multiple times to be constantly nice to others.  Often, I feel like they are simply beating a dead horse.

This class ended up being different for a few different reasons.  It was very small and personal, and somehow - I don't know how - it was a different layout.  People were willing to speak up, and the leaders of the discussion didn't skirt around controversial stereotypes.

While I cannot recreate completely what I learned in the course, I found out more about those people in the classroom than I have about the majority of my friends.  I even found a few kindred spirits, which is rather impressive since the course was only two hours long.

There was one interesting person that obviously I will not name, but I believe that you would find her interesting as well.  We were asked several diversity related questions such as, "did you have a friend in high school who was a different ethnicity than you?" and "do you currently have a friend who is a different race?" To all of these questions, she answered no.  Maybe that isn't as mind-blowing to you as it is to me, but I was entirely amazed that this girl did not have any experience with other races or ethnic groups at all growing up.  Obviously, she had to have had a little experience, but not to associate with a single "different" person in her 19 year old life seemed so extreme to me, I was wondering if she was even listening to the questions.  I really wish I could have gotten into her head at this point, I really want to know what she thought of other cultures and races.  Was she naive enough about other races that she really thought stereotypes ran across the board, or did she understand that stereotypes don't fit everybody?  Was she even aware of the diversity within other race or ethnic groups?

While of course, I make no marks on her life for this - she was obviously doing well and from the two hour course I took with her, seemed to be an otherwise well-balanced (if party-centric) girl.  I have never felt the need to say that I am happy I come from diverse schools and other social mediums, but after discovering that there are people who do not - I am extremely happy.

I've been lucky enough in life to never notice diversity in friends.  I'm pretty unique, though, too.