"From Being a Cog to Creating the System: A Journey to Purpose and Legacy"

I am a 22M studying at IIT. Throughout these years, there’s nothing I can point to and say, “This is mine. I made it.” Nothing that truly came from within me. I’ve taken no significant responsibility, earned no income, just running in the rat race. And now, the question that echoes in my mind is: WHAT IS THE PURPOSE? WHAT DO I REALLY WANT?

I don’t know yet what I truly want, but the purpose is becoming clear. Many of us want to earn money, provide for our families, and take on responsibilities. But is that enough? Sure, these things bring satisfaction and happiness, but what about us? What will the world remember us for? What legacy will we leave behind?

Humans are differentiated from animals by our intelligence—the ability to perceive, think, and respond accordingly. But now, even AI can do this, and often with better precision. So, what sets us apart?

We still have CREATIVITY. Many of us don’t even realize the extent of our creative potential. We don’t think we have it in us because we’ve never tried. The only way to discover it is to TRY, even if we’re afraid—just try for the experience. Find out where you stand, what you can do. There must be something each of us can do better than anyone else.

In a year or so, I’ll be part of a ‘system,’ working to ensure that the ‘system’ doesn’t fail. By ‘system,’ I mean a company or firm that delivers a final product to society, where I’ll just be another cog in the machine, like a wheel in a cycle. Years later, when I retire, I don’t want to be left wondering what purpose I served in society all those years. What will I have to call mine?

The purpose isn’t just to be part of the system but to IMPROVE the system, to make it better, to CREATE more out of it. Let machines and AI be part of the system, but let us be the ones who CREATE that system.