Geniuses.
I’ve been reading Ashlee Vance's book on Elon Musk and have come to my own conclusion about humanity’s scientific progress. It feels like our fate, our understanding of the universe, and our ability to change the status quo, lies almost entirely on polymath geniuses that happen to grow up in exactly the right environment and exactly at the right time. Socrates, Da Vinci (my main man), Newton, Tesla, Turing … Musk?
I can hear you say: “But , does that really matter? How else would you like the biggest new ideas to come about?”
I have no idea. And I guess, that’s not really my point. All I know is that at the ripe age of 21, I feel like I’ve already missed the boat on changing the world. Not that I’m a super genius or anything, but I do come from an academic family which comes with its own pressures and expectations, and yet, I don’t really super care about anything very much unless there’s a grade, or money involved. I’ve never had this invisible drive since before I could speak to make Mars habitable (cough, cough Musk) nor have I tinkered with engines or anything mechanical since I realised I had opposable thumbs (cough, cough someone). I guess my point is, I don’t really have that passion that seems to drive people, to the end of the earth and back, about anything. I like technology, and science. But I don’t think about these things day in, day out, and nor do I think I would be too annoyed if they ended up just being hobbies in my life. I hope I find something that truly interests me, and soon. Maybe grad school will spark something in me. Maybe not.
Till the next test of self worth,