We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Harper Jackovich. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Harper below.
Hi Harper, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
For most of my life, tennis was everything to me. It was where I found confidence, control, and identity. I poured everything I had into the sport — my time, my energy, my worth. Every win made me feel like I had a purpose, and every loss made me question if I did. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was chasing purpose in something that could never truly satisfy me.
Eventually, I hit a point where I felt completely burnt out — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The pressure to be perfect was suffocating, and no matter how hard I tried, it never felt like enough. I remember walking off the court one day, holding back tears, thinking, “If this is what I’ve been living for, why do I feel so empty?” That moment forced me to look deeper than tennis and start asking questions I had avoided for so long: Who am I really? What’s the point of all this? Where does my value actually come from?
It was in that season of feeling lost that God found me. One night I cried out to Him for the first time, and in that moment, I felt his unexplainable peace that surpassed all of my understanding. I started reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and learning what it meant to actually have a relationship with Jesus instead of just knowing about Him. Slowly, I began to see my life through a completely different lens. God opened my eyes to who He is, and in the process, He showed me who I was always meant to be.
He changed the way I viewed myself — not as someone who had to earn love or prove her worth, but as someone already chosen, forgiven, and loved beyond measure. And that change went far beyond tennis. It changed my heart. It softened the way I treat people, the way I speak, and the way I carry myself. I started caring less about recognition and more about reflection — about letting others see Christ through me.
God also gave me a heart for people — especially those who feel unseen, overlooked, or far from Him. I’ve developed this deep desire to serve, to love people where they are, and to help them experience the same freedom and peace that completely transformed my life. Whether it’s through words of encouragement, prayer, or simply showing kindness, I’ve found joy in pointing people back to the One who gave me purpose in the first place.
Now, tennis isn’t my identity anymore — it’s an opportunity. Every time I step on the court, I play with a different kind of confidence, one that comes from knowing who I belong to. My purpose isn’t about trophies or achievements; it’s about glorifying God in everything I do and using every gift He’s given me to serve others.
Finding Christ didn’t just give my life purpose — it gave me a mission. To love people well. To serve with humility. And to help others know the Jesus who met me at my lowest and turned my life into something beautiful.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a student-athlete and a follower of Christ, and tennis has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve spent countless hours training, competing, and growing through this sport — not just as an athlete, but as a person. What makes tennis so special to me isn’t just the competition or the wins; it’s the way it’s taught me perseverance, humility, and how to keep pushing forward even when things don’t go as planned.
But the most meaningful part of my journey isn’t just what happens on the court — it’s how God has used tennis to shape my character. Over time, He’s shown me that my identity isn’t in my performance, but in Him. That realization completely changed the way I play, the way I treat people, and the way I live. I try to use every practice, match, and interaction as a chance to reflect His love — whether that’s through encouraging a teammate, showing grace after a loss, or leading with kindness when no one’s watching.
Right now, I’m in the process of finding where I’ll play tennis in college, and it’s such an exciting season of trust and growth. I’m praying for a school that feels like home — a place where I can compete at a high level, grow as a person, and continue to live out my faith boldly.
Outside of tennis, I love connecting with people, serving in my community and church, and helping others find the same peace and purpose I’ve found in Christ. My goal — no matter where I go next — is to keep using the courage God’s given me to make an impact that goes far beyond the court.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back on my journey so far, the three qualities that have made the biggest impact on my life are perseverance, humility, and faith. Each one has shaped me in ways I never expected — not just as an athlete, but as a person.
Perseverance has carried me through every challenge, both on and off the court. There were seasons when I questioned my abilities, lost confidence, or faced setbacks that made me want to give up. But learning to keep going — even when things felt impossible — taught me that growth happens in the hard moments. My advice to anyone just starting out is: don’t fear failure. Let it refine you, not define you. Every struggle is shaping you into someone stronger than you realize.
Humility taught me how to handle both success and disappointment with grace. Tennis has a way of reminding you that one day you’re on top, and the next you’re not. But learning to stay grounded — to celebrate wins without pride and face losses without bitterness — has helped me grow in character more than anything else. For anyone beginning their journey, remember: how you treat people matters more than how you perform. True success isn’t about being the best; it’s about being kind, teachable, and respectful no matter the outcome.
And most importantly, faith changed everything for me. Finding my relationship with Christ gave me peace, direction, and a purpose far greater than winning or losing. My advice to others is to stay rooted in something that gives your life meaning beyond achievements. For me, that’s Jesus — the One who reminds me that my worth isn’t earned, it’s given. When your foundation is strong, you can face anything with courage and confidence.
Those three things — perseverance, humility, and faith — have been the heart of my journey. They’ve helped me grow, guided my choices, and given me a reason to keep showing up with joy and purpose every single day.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I start to feel overwhelmed, my first instinct used to be to push through it — to keep working, keep striving, and try to handle everything on my own. But over time, I’ve learned that that approach only leads to burnout and emptiness. What’s changed everything for me is learning to pause, breathe, and turn to God first.
Now, when I feel like everything is too much, I take a step back and pray. Even if it’s a short, simple prayer like, “God, I can’t do this on my own, please give me peace,” it recenters me. I remind myself that I don’t have to have it all together because He already does. I also find so much comfort in reading Scripture — especially verses like Philippians 4:6–7, which remind me that I can trade my anxiety for God’s peace when I bring everything to Him in prayer.
Outside of faith, I’ve also learned to let myself rest without guilt. Sometimes that looks like doing a light workout, journaling my thoughts and feelings, listening to worship music, or spending quiet time alone in Gods word. Other times, it means reaching out to someone I trust — a friend, family member, or mentor — and just being honest about how I feel. Opening up reminds me that I don’t have to carry everything by myself.
My advice to anyone who’s struggling with feeling overwhelmed is this: slow down and give yourself grace. You don’t have to fix everything right away. Take things one step at a time, lean on God’s strength instead of your own, and remember that rest isn’t weakness — it’s necessary. Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my life have come after I finally stopped trying to control everything and just surrendered it to Him. Remember, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28
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