They say it’s so that we can all feel we have a purpose. A sense of belonging. A reason to live.

They say before the vocations, people were aimless, slothful, lost. Floating around from one dead end day to day post to another.

Or, they were scrambling over each other, doing anything to get ahead. Sacrificing time with friends and family, all for the sake of a job. As if a title could give them the meaning in life they were missing as they wasted everyday moments for the sake of an illusive goal.

Before the engineered vocations, there was competition and strife and jealousy. There were castes of people based on their roles in society. But once the government was able to genetically alter our DNAs to make us better suited for certain tasks, there was no need for anxiety, back stabbing, envy, or comparison.

But sitting in the doctor’s room, as the door closed behind her, I can’t help but wonder at how different her life must be from mine. With her crisp lab cost and scribbling handwriting, her sage comments knowing immediately and intrinsically what was wrong with me…I know I could never have the brains for that. It’s not in my nature.

They say it’s better this way. For each of us to have our designated purpose. They say to be grateful. They say choice is the enemy of peace.

But for the first time in my life, waiting for the doctor to return, I wonder what vocation I would have chosen for myself if I could.