50,000+ Reached: Redefining Success Through STEAM and Service

Did you know that the recent generation of youth has reported some of the highest rates of internalized anxiety, stress, and burnout compared to generations prior, earning the infamous label “The Anxious Generation”?

From the immense pressure of academic grades and the never-ending social media feeds about a million college possibilities, to the delicate dynamics of friendships, the sources of current-day stress are constant and unrelenting for my generation. These collective pressures often become so embedded in an individual’s mind that they are no longer visible to the public eye. Rather, the external standards become internalized expectations and private endeavors that redefine what success truly means.

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For the longest time, I was confined to the restrictions of academic perfection, perfect social performances, and achieving the world’s version of fulfillment. I long struggled to define the authentic meaning of success. Parents, students, and professionals across a number of fields continue to debate whether a successful and fulfilled life should be measured by the external values of the public, prestige, and recognition, or by the internal goals, milestones, and expectations individuals set for themselves.

Although family influence and societal pressures strongly impact how people initially define success, intrinsic motivation and identity development allow individuals of all backgrounds to redefine success based on their own sense of purpose. People do not simply inherit a sense of achievement, fulfillment, or a basis of success. Instead, these ideas are impacted by external influences and the individuals surrounding them as they progress into adolescence.

For me, this understanding became real through my work with An Unclouded Conscience, my youth STEAM nonprofit, which has reached 50,000+ people, collaborated with 30+ nonprofit organizations, created impact across 5+ countries, and collected $1,000+ worth of donated items through in-kind donations.

Even in my own life, the goals that I pursued with my full heart, soul, and values by far trumped any external recognition from the public eye. Public approval can feel empty if it is not backed up by your intentions for the future. Intrinsic motivation is rooted in the core purpose, which allows individuals to persevere longer, invest their innermost energy, and redefine success as their own meaning, not simply for public appearance.

As I have grown older, I have watched my identity and worldviews shift, therefore taking my version of success along with it, transforming it into one that reflects my priorities. This is what can create a lifetime of happiness, helping people understand that true worth comes from within, not from the outside.

Success isn’t a tangible item; it isn’t something you can hold, feel, or touch. Everyone has their own version of success and what truly builds them up from the inside.

This truly matters in our current-day world because instead of refusing to stand up and fight against the strict standards society has placed against them, people can rise up and decide what success truly means to them, redefining it once and for all.

When I look back on my past attempts at trying to fit myself into the version of perfection, I understand a fact of finality. The authentication I always longed for from others was never the issue; rather, it was the fuel for me to uncover my true purpose and break free from the constraints that had held me back for so long.

True worth comes from within, not from the outside.