By WHITNEY WILSON
Sheridan High School Student
Over the course of history, a total of 108 billion humans have been placed on Earth, all for a reason. Out of 108 billion people, there has never been anyone else like you. The specifically unique combination of chromosomes, genes, DNA, and proteins that make up who you are cannot be replicated or repeated for any other human. Even the odds of identical twins being created with the same set of chromosomes is slim; the chances are about one in 246. The human body, your body, is so spectacularly complex, being made of trillions and trillions of cells, that scientists still have not figured out why people have fingerprints. And they still don’t know why there are different types of blood or why people laugh, both of which are unique markers for every person. All of this, paired up with a personality and a brain which is made of billions of neurons all with distinct connections; all of this, and of course there is not, and never will be, anyone like you.
But what does this really mean? What does it mean to be human? To be human, as in possessing the qualities which make a living thing a person, means a person having empathy for others. Empathy is about seeing a situation through another’s eyes and finding echoes of that person within yourself. Without empathy, words are just words and actions are just empty gestures. Something else that makes a human a human is the innate goodness within each person. Innate goodness lets us, as humans, seek out experiences to help us grow and reach our full potential. It is important to know and realize that everyone has potential, but sadly, not everyone reaches his. With this potential, humans can build anything: relationships, a future, knowledge, even physical objects such as a landmark that will last for hundreds of years.
Knowing your sense of purpose is also what it means to be human. Each of us has one life to live; whether you make it count depends on the actions and paths you take and if you have the impetus to leap over the obstacles life throws your way. Some align themselves spiritually, others morally, and many do both. But to have a sense of purpose is to prioritize your life and have motivation that drives toward something. Another very important thing to know as a human, is to know we are all free. Whether you are from America, Land of the Free, or if you’re from a country that is not as free, no one can put a price on a human life.
To be a human is to know that we are not isolated in something and that we’re all in the same boat. Race, gender, sexuality, religion, or age should not hinder any human from lifting another up. Lend a smile to someone who looks let down. Open a door for a mom with children or an elderly member of the community or for nobody because you just want to let a little fresh air in. Give a compliment to a farmer and tell him you like his beginning farmer’s tan. Shake hands with a Democrat, or a Republican, or even both at the same time. Tell your neighbors in a very nice way that you’re tired of them leaving their trash cans out four days after trash day and maybe make them some cookies. It’s nice to know that you can impact someone’s day in a great way with a small gesture, and it’s even better to know that someone can always impact your day.
Being human, a good human, is everything. Once everybody treats others equally, and with respect, beauty will spread like wildfire. All unique individuals, I believe, are put on Earth for a reason. Even if your purpose isn’t during your lifetime, you could morph the world with the dust you leave behind. And this, this is what I think it means to be human.