Hi! I’m Ansley, and I’m currently on a journey to find love.

Well—actually, I’m searching for a career, which honestly feels just as complicated.

I’m a junior in high school, and maybe you’re thinking, “You’re only 16! Why are you stressing about your future already?” But that’s exactly the problem. These days, if you don’t have your whole life figured out by the time you hit your sophomore year, it can feel like you’re already behind. Everyone says high school is the time to discover who you are, but with the pressure of college admissions, it’s like you’re supposed to have a fully developed passion or some incredible talent by the age of ten.

All my life, I’ve chased success. I get good grades, take the hardest classes, join every club I can, and run cross country. And yet… it still doesn’t feel like enough.

All I want is to get into a good state school—specifically, the University of Georgia. My mom went there for grad school and had an amazing experience. She got in with a SAT score of 1100. Today? UGA wouldn’t even look twice at that before stamping a big red DENIED on my application.The competition to get into college is intense. And sometimes, it feels like my chances of job success in the future is tied to whether I get in.

I apply to colleges in just a few months, and I’m already feeling the weight of it all. I just want to live a happy life and feel proud of the path I’m on. But how do I get there? Where do I even start?

Lately, I’ve been considering majoring in Marketing or Business. I’m the Yearbook editor at my school and love the creative side of design and photography. I also enjoy math and organizing projects—so maybe those are clues? Still, the possibilities feel endless and, honestly, overwhelming.

Sometimes I feel like I’m just okay at everything. I like photography, but my pictures are always just a little blurry. Maybe I’m just too hard on myself—but it feels like no matter how much I try, I’m never really good at something.

So here’s my goal: for the rest of the year, I want to put my best foot forward and figure out what lights me up.What is my passion? I’ve made a plan and here are my five steps:

My 5 Steps to Finding Passion and Purpose

1. Read more (literally anything)
My dad recommended The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I’m starting with a chapter a day, and I’ll report back to this blog. It’s a small thing, but it’s something.

2. Branch out and meet new people
I’m going to challenge myself to talk to someone new, sit with different people at lunch, and maybe say yes to things I usually shy away from.

3. Take advantage of opportunities
Whether it’s volunteering, getting a part-time job, or asking family for internship connections—I’m saying yes to growth.

4. Reach a fitness goal
I want to set small monthly goals. This month: run 3–4 times a week. Simple, but effective.

5. Keep a positive attitude
Easier said than done, but I know mindset matters. I want to be kind to myself, even when things aren’t perfect.

If you’re like me—stressed, overwhelmed, unsure of where you’re headed—I hope this reminds you that you’re not alone. You don’t need to have all the answers at 16 (or even 26). Just take it one step at a time. Be open. Try new things. Give yourself a little grace.

Let’s figure this out together!