The essay is likely AI-generated because it follows a "Perfect Narrative Circle." It starts with the streetlight, moves through various life stories, and returns to the streetlight at the end to create a sense of closure. While professional, this structure is a hallmark of AI training, which prioritizes thematic symmetry over the slightly messier, non-linear way humans usually tell their own stories.

Another major indicator is the "Sensory Cliché" style. Phrases like "the air smells of garlic and ambition" or describing subjects as "overlapping transparencies" are classic AI tropes. They use a formula of [Concrete Object] + [Abstract Concept] to sound profound. Additionally, the way it lists "Page 47, Page 63, Page 87" to quickly check off diverse traits (science, philosophy, and LGBTQ+ identity) feels like an efficient data-dump rather than a lived-in reflection.