Students reflect on Jobs’ impact


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Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., passed away Oct. 5 at the age of 56. News of his death dominated global media headlines and the online sphere throughout the day, with tweets tagged as “#RIP Steve Jobs” and “#ThankYouSteve” peaking in the late afternoon and continuing into the evening.

USC students were moved by Steve Jobs’ passing, with many acknowledging just how large of an impact he’s made not just on technology, but on the world.

“The loss of Steve Jobs is a bittersweet tragedy,” said Jasper Lynn, a senior majoring in business. “His ailing health has been a huge issue for him and now that he’s in a better place, we can all sit back and think to ourselves how the digital age has completely revolutionized everything we do.”

“Because of my major, Steve Jobs is an inspiration when it comes to technology,” said Jarrett Chen, a junior majoring in electrical engineering. “He showed us how technology can be of great use to us. So instead of thanking him for what he did for you, thank him for changing the world.”

“The public reaction to his death was what struck me the most,” said Sarah Payne, a junior majoring in business. “The number of people who posted Facebook statuses, uploaded his Stanford commencement address, the amount of photo timelines, etc., all over the Internet is pretty amazing considering this is just a guy who makes electronics. The fact that he was able to become such a visionary and public figure is what is most impressive in my eyes.”

Apple’s homepage changed to announce the news and commemorate Jobs’ life, where it posted the following message: “Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.”

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple along with Steve Wozniak in 1976. Over the course of three decades, he grew the company from its first product, an assembled circuit board called the Apple I, to the innovative iPhone and iPad-producing giant that it is today through his relentless drive for perfection, brilliant creativity and keen eye for beautiful and user-intuitive products.