Medal of Honor

When I was a teenager, one of my favorite hobbies was playing Medal of Honor. I had just gotten my first computer, and playing video games with my cousin was a huge part of my life. We would spend hours (sometimes even days) trying to unlock the next mission. It was both stressful and exciting. We were so immersed in the game that it felt like we were actually living in the era of World War II.

One day, after being stuck on a mission for what felt like forever, a friend suggested looking up cheat codes online. After some searching, I found them: invincibility, unlimited ammo, invisible mode. At first, I was thrilled. Finally, I could unlock all the missions effortlessly. I finished the game in no time. To convince myself it was still fun, I played each mission a few more times, but soon, I had nothing left to do. The game had lost its excitement.

It feels like we’re reaching the same point in life today. We’re discovering all the "cheat codes"—AI does school projects, self-driving cars replace drivers, directors use AI to make films, machines take over craftsmanship. Everything is becoming automated, and in many ways, life is losing its meaning.

But I still believe in hard work. No matter how advanced technology becomes, for me, life is about waking up in the morning, doing my best, and being honest in what I do. I’m not against technology. It’s incredibly useful, and like anyone, I embrace it in my daily life. But to keep life meaningful, we must hold on to the values that make us human. Putting in effort to achieve something is part of who we are. Shortcuts might make things easier, but they don’t make them worthwhile.