Take a minute and think about where you'll see yourself ten years from now. Will you still be in the same place you are now? Are you going to be doing things and making things happen? Will you be married with the job you've always wanted or will you have settled just for what came easy? If the answer to all these questions are unsure or yes, you know where you'll be and your happy, then more power to you. If the answer was unsure, maybe you should take a step back and think about what you need to do to get ahead to where you want to be.

My parents have always told me that I can do anything I want in my life, and that I can make a change. I don't think our generation realizes how much we can really do to accomplish what we want to do in life. We get to a point in life where we get too comfortable and we block ourselves from growing. In reality, there is a whole bigger picture. People say you need to get outside your comfort zone, contrarily extend your comfort zone, extend the range of it and see what comes out of it. Fear inhibits you, it blocks you, it holds you back from doing the things you want to do.

Growing up in Georgia my whole life, I lived in a bubble which is what we call Peachtree City. It's a great suburb town to grow up in but I was sheltered to an extent. Everyone knows everyone and there is always a connection found somewhere. I went to good schools like Rising Starr Middle School and Starrs Mill Highschool which are regarded as schools with high educational values. Going to these schools and meeting the friends I had shaped me into the person I am today because it made me want to work hard and to further my journey. I played sports my whole life including travel soccer, high school soccer, and college soccer. Playing sports helped me stay in line and helped me change my outlook. It pushed me to work hard because you're representing your school when playing sports, in clubs, or any school related things.

After graduating high school I went off to college and played soccer. Now I had that typical first year college experience where you go off and have too much fun while playing sports. I kept up with my grades but it was kind of hard because it was mixed in with the hype and I was on my own with out my parents on my back all the time. The friends and experiences I had, I would not take back at all, because they helped me learn lessons, gain friendships, help me through struggles, and become independent. My decision to play sports in college helped mold me into a leader.

For example, I was always known as the really nice girl without a back bone in life and people saw that as an open door to take advantage. I still am the nice girl but I have gained a backbone and have gotten better about speaking my truth. It actually happened during soccer season when I transferred schools and went to a whole other school with new people, new team mates, and a new coach. I made friends easily with everyone and was likable amongst everyone. Our captain had more power than she was capable of handling. She took things a little too far sometimes and would talk about me behind my back (which I don't do at all) and I would call her out on it sometimes and she didn't know how to react. Her little possy was even afraid to stand up to her and I began not to be. I realized what was going on and I was not going to have it. She would harass me and text me things because I would post pictures of our team drives to away games or videos that we would do. She even came up to my room one day with her possy and harassed me, said things that weren't necessary, and threatened me. One day I just had enough of her crap and attitude and just let her have it. I guess it took her for me to grow a back bone and not put up with her sly ways. It sparked a change in me because I learned to always have my guard up because you never know who will try to knock you down.

If you want to see change you have to make the change and move forward with whatever it is that you are wanting to do, or something that has happened in your past that you want to change. So, everyone don't be afraid to speak up and do whatever it is that you have to do. because nothing will get done if you don't speak up.