Steve Jobs // 1955-2011

Design by Jonathan Mak

Whether you're an Apple user or not, your life has been affected by Steve Jobs. You might have a smart phone (maybe not an iPhone, but the introduction of the device forced other companies to "keep up"). you might love Pixar movies. You might even be an Apple fanboy/fangirl.

Tonight has brought a strange mix of emotions for me. See, as some of you may know, I used to work for Apple Retail. At 19, I was pretty convinced that Apple was the only company I wanted to work for. I admired Steve Jobs, in a way, with his ability to create something so amazing without ever graduating college. I admired his drive and how he always seemed to push the envelope. I admired how he always kept us guessing.

My abrupt end with Apple (following health implications that were out of my control) stirred up bitter feelings in me. My heart was broken and I felt as if I had been removed from my family. The Apple Store was my second home. I was hurt. After literally months of mourning about my job loss, I emailed Steve Jobs directly, hoping for something. Anything.

Steve Jobs responded to my email.  

It was rude. It was insensitive. It was short. It made me despise the company that I had once loved. It made me angry. I had worked so hard and this was the hand dealt to me? I felt betrayed.

Naturally the news today about Steve Jobs's passing struck a chord with me. Part of me wanted to say whatever. But then I remembered that this man, no matter what personal feelings I had towards him, was an amazing magician, artist, and above all else, was a person. His inventions have helped me communicate and connect with people that I otherwise never would have come in contact with. They help me create. They help me remember good times. They are, as strange as it seems, a part of my every day life.

And most importantly, my time at Apple brought me to some of the greatest people I have ever known. My best friend, Bob, for example. He's unbelievably talented and someone I am going to miss a huge amount when I leave for Chicago. I will always have a strong connection with my friend Shawn even though he moved to California a few years back. Stanley (who I shared photos with a couple of weeks ago) is an amazing person, is kind, and listens. I'm a better person for knowing these people. And without Steve, it's totally possibly that we never would have crossed paths.

So tonight I shed a little tear for the loss of a man who, although I never met in person, changed my life in many ways. I hope his family and friends know how much he meant to so many. Rest in peace, Steve.

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.