Jobs leaves behind visionary legacy

On October 6th, the world was shocked to learn of the passing of Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. This heartbreaking loss was felt all throughout the world, with millions mourning a brilliant man who showed true strength and courage right to the very end.

Right away, we can look to any Apple product we own and immediately see the genius that Jobs was able to achieve. He was a truly visionary man that forever changed the world in so many ways. With the iPod, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and many more products, it can be safe to say that Jobs was indeed the Einstein of our lifetime. His inventions have changed the way we listen to music, learning for children has become revolutionized, and computer systems have advanced to what they are today.

Beyond the typical Apple products, however, the impact Jobs left on this world can be felt in many ways we may not even be aware of. The fonts we use, the way a computer monitor appears, and even some of our favorite Pixar films like Toy Story are all results of the revolutionary work that Steve Jobs accomplished.

While Steve Jobs may be remembered best for his innovations, I feel that he should be remembered for the truly inspiring man he was as well. Dropping out of college and working out of his parents' garage in California, Jobs was able to construct the first personal computer that would jumpstart an entire industry. Pursuing his dreams, Jobs never backed down. Even when the company he founded kicked him out, Jobs came bouncing back, creating a competitive computer company that ended up launching him back into the CEO's chair at Apple. During his tenure, it was always noted that Jobs never tested any of his products with consumers. He went on instinct and instinct alone.

When Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he didn't give up. He fought hard like the determined and courageous man that he was. He went through treatments and surgeries that weakened him greatly, but nonetheless was seen on the Apple stage for every major and historical product announcement that his brilliant mind had conceived.

Jobs' experiences with his disease may have weakened him physically, but it strengthened him more than ever in all other ways. He created some of Apple's most successful and revolutionary products even when his medical condition afflicted him. Reflecting on his life, Jobs once said: "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

The words of Steve Jobs will, like the technology he created, live on for many years to come. Jobs should be admired not just because of his inventions, but because of the courage and vision it took to create and execute his inventions. He should be remembered for the outstanding courage and bravery he instilled when he rose up to continued success, even when all odds were against him.

Steve Jobs should be admired by every one of us. The impact he left on our world can never fully be measured, but the things he did in his 56 years of life forever changed the way we live, communicate, and think. He was indeed the Edison of our age; a visionary man with a passion and energy for improving the world in which he lived. He was a champion for American greatness, and indeed he is a true portrait of human greatness that should forever be remembered for his achievements and for who he was as an individual.

The legacy Jobs leaves behind is one that has already begun to take shape. Apple goes forward with the recent launches of the iPhone4S and the iCloud, both released just days after the Apple co-founder's death. The devotion and admiration for Jobs found in Apple's fans is unlike any other company. Jobs was more than just a CEO, he was a cultural icon, and one that clearly left his mark on the world that he worked so hard to improve.