The world revolves around me. 

We experience the world like we are at the center of reality, held hostage to our senses and memories, crafting a subjective reality that feels significant. Yet, this perspective is a mere construct of our minds, shared by the human collective. 

In the grand scheme of things, we are infinitesimal, a speck amidst billions, our impact impossible to see against the vastness of the universe. Our universe has more than septillions of galaxies, each potentially hosting countless planets. If we vanish tomorrow, Earth would continue its orbit, and the laws of physics would remain intact.

So, in a world devoid of inherent meaning, any individual purpose or meaning we pursue ultimately loses significance. Our quest for purpose is often fueled by the subconscious belief that life has intrinsic meaning and that our existence holds significance. Yet, if the world is devoid of purpose and we exist randomly, contributing to something without meaning appears futile. Therefore, the question arises for high achieving students living in the bubble of the Bay Area: why do we seek meaning in the cutthroat competition of college acceptances in such a seemingly meaningless world?

Finding meaning and purpose in life may provide temporary comfort, but ultimately, it is a construct we impose on an indifferent reality. The universe’s enormity and our brief existence in it is insignificant. While cherishing relationships and experiences is valuable to us individually, it does not change the fact that our existence holds no cosmic significance. Embracing this perspective is not as useless as many believe, as it allows us to accept the uncertainty and absurdity of life without clinging to subjective meaning. It opens the door to exploring life’s mysteries without being tied down by the pursuit of personal significance.

Facing college rejections as a high school senior who has worked their entire life towards this one goal can make me and others in similar positions confront the harsh reality of our existence’s insignificance. It is a moment when we realize that our aspirations might not carry the weight we hoped for. Yet, by understanding that our desires often clash with the indifferent universe, we liberate ourselves from the grip of self-importance. This understanding is not limited to college admissions; it is a universal truth about life. The pursuit of success, futile comparisons and material wealth lose their hold when we see their emptiness in the grand scheme of things, against the background of the vast universe. Instead, it is a sign of empowerment to live genuinely, without the burden of societal expectations. While rejection hurts, it reminds us that our individual pursuits may not hold cosmic significance. Embracing this truth allows us to feel like we have our own meaning beyond superficial markers of success, in the richness of relationships and experiences.

Realizing our insignificance lets us take control of our lives, choosing our own path based on what truly matters to us instead of following society’s expectations. This understanding leads to genuine fulfillment, moving beyond our egos to find real meaning in our negligible existence.