Read the following excerpt from a rhetorical essay discussing the nature of progress:
"Progress is not merely marked by milestones, but rather by the subtleties woven into the fabric of our daily lives. It is a gradual unraveling of fears, a stepping away from apathy into a realm where conscience reigns. We are not spectators in this unfolding narrative; rather, we are the architects of our future, armed with the tools of compassion and conviction. The journey towards progress is paved not just by the loud proclamations of change, but by the quiet determination of those willing to challenge the status quo, to rise from the shadows of complacency with a fierce dedication to possibility."