by Madison Starr

Created on: February 19, 2008

Life has many purposes. We live to learn and teach. We live to experiment and contribute to the lives of others. We live to find enlightenment and redemption. We live for the multiple experiences that life brings. From birth until death, we spend our lives discovering new things.

I cannot imagine one single set purpose to life. Whenever I try to find it, I am dissatisfied. I can think of too many goals and objectives regarding the subject of life, none of which are more important than the other. In my opinion, the purpose of life is a combination of multiple factors. For some people, the purpose may be to get the most out of life. For others, it may be to merely procreate and keep their bloodline alive. For me, it is to learn, teach, contribute, and grow spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. If those needs of mine ceased, I would be hard-pressed to find a more worthy purpose to life.

Learning is an important purpose in life. The ability to learn and discover new things is something we are blessed with at birth. As we age, that ability grows and we are capable of understanding complex problems and issues. Throughout life, complications arise and with the ability to learn, come the capability to overcome these obstacles and find the answers we need to move on. Due to the discoveries of others, our species has thrived and we would have become extinct had it not been for certain valuable efforts. From Columbus' voyage to the New World to the discovery of penicillin to the invention of the airplane, we have greatly benefited from the curiosity and determination of others. We seem to possess an innate desire to learn which cannot only help ourselves but can benefit many generations to come.

This, of course, brings me to teaching. To teach others what we know is a purpose that I view more as a duty. Parents teach children how to talk and eat. We teach animals how to understand and obey our commands. Many look to their religious scripture to learn moral principles. In school, we are taught to read and write and solve arithmetic. Pilots are taught to fly, sailors to sail, tailors to sew, chefs to cook, doctors to diagnose, and counselors to counsel. Without a teacher to teach each of these trades, we would be without many vital services and suffer greatly for it.

I consider contribution to be a vital purpose in life. Everyone has something to contribute in this life, whether it is money, wisdom, time, skill, art, or love. It is our duty to teach those around us and help

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