Progress

I find myself grappling with a fear, a fear that my generation may be the last to savour the warmth of bonfires beneath starry nights, the joy of sunrise, and the quiet bliss of reading a book.

Fear that we are last to live in the moment, to appreciate and remember it. The fact appears to be paradoxical – it is us, the first generation that was raised by both the tangible embrace of books and the ethereal allure of gadgets. The first generation immersed in vast applications of mathematical and computational sciences in everyday life. This, in essence, is what we term progress.

Many argue that we were born too late for the grandeur of balls and explorations, and yet, too early for the marvels of cosmic travel. However, I contend that we live in an era of unparalleled significance. The relentless march of time, akin to the unyielding machinery of clocks, is beyond our control. Nevertheless, we, the developers of new technologies, and engineers of tomorrow possess the power to influence the course of technological and social development. The trajectory we set will determine whether we forge a society elevated by progress or one marred by its degradation.

Acknowledging our inability to fully control this progression, we must recognize the agency we possess today to shape a more promising tomorrow. Some say it is our responsibility before our descendants, yet we can also say that we are just selfish. Selfish to preserve what holds significance to us in this moment. The imperative, however, is to take decisive action now.

The uncertainty of the outcome should not paralyze us into inaction. The fire in our eyes should move our bodies further. Even in the face of obscurity and variability, the acting remains. As humans, we regret past decisions regardless of our choices. Wouldn’t it be more worthwhile to try and influence the course of events than to rue our lack of initiative? Life’s brevity and the ever-evolving nature of generations serve as both a curse and a sanctuary. It is through our thoughts, endeavours, and outcomes that we wield the power to mould change.

That is, the interplay between tradition and technology, the clash of the old and the new, defines our unique epoch. Progress, as we navigate it, demands thoughtful consideration and deliberate action. As the architects of our destiny, we must seize the present moment to chart a course for a future that we, our ancestors and descendants, can be proud of.