Farewell

Dear readers, I am sad to say that our time together is coming to an end. My hope is that it has not been too obvious that this blog was created as a long-term assignment for an English class, and not out of pure, intrinsic motivation. However, the former is true, and as the school year ends, my posts will follow. As such, I'd like to leave behind a few final thoughts on the subject matter that we've been exploring.

So far, I've talked a lot about competition being applied in very specific ways, such as neuroscience or sci-fi writing. In my final post, I'd like to apply it to broader concepts. Specifically, I'd like to talk about the consequences of competition regarding global issues such as overpopulation and the limitations of our environment. Jeffery Sachs talks a lot about this idea. In essence, competition serves as both a tool to combat growing issues of overpopulation and environmental degradation, while also being part of the problem. Throughout my posts to this blog, I've almost always treated competition as a positive, powerful entity - the driving force behind evolution and technological innovation. What I'd like to say before departing this corner of the Internet is that I've painted a decidedly monochromatic portrait. In addressing many global issues, competition can inhibit progress. If you think about it, this is almost intuitive. If a U.N. committee needs to work out a plan to organize the building of infrastructure in undeveloped countries, the competing interests of nations wishing to access new markets will slow progress. If companies continue to compete with each other to produce more products more quickly, greenhouse gas emissions will remain unchecked. In my writing I have failed to get this across, but these negative aspects of competition need to be kept in mind.

Now that I've tied up that loose end, I'd like to conclude with some things unrelated to the lens of competition. High school is about to end for me, and in a few months I'll be starting the next academic phase of my life: university. It's so difficult to describe the way I feel right now. Some days I can only think about the new people I'm going to meet, and other days I can only think about losing the friends I have now. Every day I feel a frightening sense of impermanence, as I know for sure that a day will come when I'll be old and frail enough to look back upon this period of my life, and many others, to say to myself, "It really does fly by." The idea that everyone is experiencing this... is simply overwhelming. Every single insignificant detail of my life that I know will be lost to time once my memory fails me, every tiny moment that has been lost as soon as it passed - everyone possesses myriads of these snapshots. Everyone lives a life incredibly rich in complexity, no matter how mundane they may consider their job, their family, their friends, their existence. And yet, no matter how complex the memories, how beautiful the brief moments, all will eventually pass. When I draw my last breath, with me will depart the whole of my memories, whether they are major events or minute details of a greater picture: the majestic smile of my favorite dog as a child, Sunny; the distinct sound of the showers in the YMCA boys' locker room being turned off before a swim practice; the overwhelming nausea of a long car ride to Indianapolis; the utter disappointment brought by an unforgiving scoreboard; the profound beauty of a beloved girl's hair; the sound of the air conditioning running as I type this. That these things will one day be taken from me; that one day there will be no "me" to take these things from - that is a beautiful and terrifying thought.

It's been a pleasant journey, my friends, but it is time to say our goodbyes. Au revoir.



"All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain."
Blade Runner