Ambition is the driving force of life. It is a fire that resides deep within our spirit, and each person has a unique precedent force that ignites it. I believe that such a force is assigned from birth—we each have a purpose that we are meant to carry through, and once we realize what this purpose is, we are guided by an internal compass to fulfill it. This doesn’t mean that every path we’re meant to take in life is clear. In this lifetime, at least, we might not be able to see our purpose in full; it might just feel like there are a bunch of puzzle pieces, things that make us feel alive, and it is our mission to put the puzzle together, even though most of the pieces are missing. That’s how it feels for me, at least.
Ever since I was little, I’ve always been motivated by a large array of things—performing, writing, academics—and I often feel that no combination of these things makes sense. I don’t fit into any particular category. Learning has always given me such a thrill, which is evident in my love for science and mathematics. I like very practical things, and am interested in figuring out how this world works. Yet, my heart is with reading, and writing stories that create magical worlds where absolutely anything is possible. My passion is in performing, and bringing these “nonexistent” worlds to life. The power of the imagination, the life that exists within our dreams, has always fascinated me. Right beside all of these facets is where my purpose lies; it’s where my ambition arises from.
How does one combine such vastly different interests, though? How am I supposed to know where to go when I’m being pulled in so many different directions? What is the common denominator? As a sophomore in college, I feel pressured to answer all of these questions as quickly as possible. Even though it takes a lifetime to find all of the pieces and put them together, I try to shove in place all of the pieces that I do have. Whenever I think about my life, and my purpose, there’s a lot that I don’t understand. Oftentimes, I fear that I will lose my way and run off track.
There are days that I have no energy—there is too much happening and too much uncertainty that I struggle to keep my head above the water. Yet, I always keep swimming. I am kept afloat by the unwavering dawn of an adventure. I am revived by the remembrance that there is always a brighter side. No matter what, I know that I have so much to learn in this lifetime—I have so much to give. I don’t know what, exactly, the world has in store for me, but I’m excited to find out. The common denominator between all facets of life is that there is a journey to go on, some sort of experience to take part in. Not all adventures are epic; there are many that are internal. So, I keep with me the thought that I will always be growing as a person, and things will always get better.
I’ve always found that it is exceedingly important to listen to yourself. You, and only you, know what feels right and what feels wrong. I trust that my inner compass will keep me on the right path and that, one day, I will understand why my journey ran the course that it did.
Second-Year Freshman is an Opinion column used to explore the unique experiences of Sophomore students who studied remotely their freshman year during the coronavirus pandemic, and are now experiencing campus life for the first time during the 2021-2022 academic year.
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