In my last column, I examined one of my favorite films, “Gladiator,” regarding my concept of modern competition —how we have replaced fighting for our lives with competing academically. In another one of my favorite films, “Office Space,” protagonist Peter Gibbons articulates the idiocy of in-office competition in the ’90s.. Near the film’s climax, he shouts, “We don’t have a lot of time on this earth. We’re not meant to spend it this way. … I’m tired of being pushed around. Aren’t you?”

 I am. We should not spend our precious time toiling away doing meaningless tasks, yet this mundane system is so deeply entrenched in our society and lives.

“When I was younger, I told my parents that I wanted to have a career that made a lot of money, even if the job was soul-crushing. I’m not so sure now. Based on how miserable I have been and what I have watched time and again in ‘Office Space,’ men and women can’t live like that. We just can’t live without any meaning.”

 My theory of modern competition has been at the forefront of my life since I recently completed the history paper, profile and AP weeks. Besides the mental strain of being forced to unnecessarily compete, I feel extreme boredom at much of life due to the academic hoops to jump through. So does Peter Gibbons. He could not tell you what he does at Initech, a technology firm that makes no real difference in the world. Peter spends the majority of his work days staring mindlessly into space and doing nothing at all, but ironically, that is the actual equivalent of him completing the tasks from Initech. Because, no matter what he does, it makes no impact. And Peter is absolutely miserable being bored.

 It all comes to a head when Peter goes to Dr. Swanson, a hypnotherapist, and tells him, “I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So, that means that every single day that you see me, that’s on the worst day of my life.”

 Swanson replies, “What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?” And when Peter answers in the affirmative, the hypnotherapist simply says, “Wow, that’s messed up.”

 Yes, it is!

 For me, “Office Space” summarizes my life as a student. Everything I do has absolutely zero impact on the world. Whether I do this or that … everything seems to be just to impress someone else. It’s challenging to find the motivation to do all the required work.

 Working hard is important, but I’ve reached a point where I understand what it feels like when nothing seems to make a difference — and what it’s like to have just enough motivation to get by. When I was younger, I told my parents that I wanted to have a career that made a lot of money, even if the job was soul-crushing. I’m not so sure now. Based on how miserable I have been and what I have watched time and again in “Office Space,” men and women can’t live like that. We just can’t live without any meaning.

 So, I now realize that if there must be a workplace, an “office space,” per se, it can’t be my whole life. It can’t be my headspace. This is what drove me to complete my Girl Scout Gold Award. I felt this crushing sense of misery and balanced it with the overwhelming fulfillment from making a true difference. I led a creative writing course at the Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library to earn my Gold Award. One cannot wallow in the misery that sickens Peter. It’s unhealthy. But balance — that works wonders. That’s why Peter finds what makes him fulfilled and finally finds joy in his life. These are the conclusions I’ve come at the end of junior year: acceptance — as in, knowing when to succumb and submit to the situation — but also knowing where and how to find equilibrium between the misery of competition and true fulfillment.

 You could say these are just champagne problems (no, I am not quoting Taylor Swift) because it’s impossible for every little action to be life-changing. But whether it’s water or wine, I’m neither a glass half full nor a glass half empty kind of person. Rather, per Polish wisdom, I simply believe, instead: It’s just a glass of water.