Core to our mission is helping our audience and community reach their full potential and the most important part of reaching your full potential is starting to find your purpose. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from the community around how various folks found their purpose and we hope it helps you in your journey.

 Jiya Pinder

I found purpose in an old photo album.

It was tucked away in the back of my mother’s closet, filled with old photographs—some creased, some curling at the edges, all alive with memory. As a child, I’d sit on the floor with her, holding each image like a treasure. She’d tell me the names, the places, the stories behind every face. Some I knew, many I didn’t, but all of them felt like part of me. That’s where it began. I didn’t have the language for it then, but looking back, that was the start of my life’s work. Read More>>

Michael Larios

My purpose comes from my family, as cheesy as it might sound but it is my honest answer! A lot of what I do not just in my art but in life too, all has my close family at the center of my reason and purpose of why I do the things that I do. The reason for this is because as a child, my parents separated from their marriage and I grew up in large being around my mother and my two older brothers. I would see my father only ever so often, so he was very estranged to me. I saw and heard many things as a kid that because of the separation, that only later in life I began to really appreciate family connections and family history. Read More>>

Reggie D. Ford

How I Found My Purpose
My purpose to empower individuals and organizations to embrace mental wellness, resilience, and vulnerability to foster connection, healing, growth and lasting transformation. But you know, I didn’t just wake up one day and say, “This is my purpose.” It’s been a journey—one that’s taken me through a lot of darkness, but also given me some of the most beautiful light. I call it my “Process of Perseverance.” It’s five stages: Pain, Passion, Purpose, Power, and Peace. Each one has shaped who I am and why I do this work. Read More>>

Juanita Montelongo

Since I can remember, I’ve carried a deep sense of responsibility. Being the eldest sibling shaped that from the very beginning. I was eight years old when my youngest sister was born, and I naturally stepped into a caregiving role—not just as a helper, but as a kind of second mom. I remember the weight of a diaper bag slung over one shoulder, baby bottles clinking inside, the smell of formula, and the rhythm of lullabies I hummed while rocking my sisters to sleep. Back then, I truly believed my purpose was to take care of others. It wasn’t something I questioned—it was simply who I was. Read More>>

Danielle Diniz

Knowing you have a passion you can’t ignore is a true gift (especially discovering it early on), but being able to pursue it long-term and/or professionally can bring about unexpected twists, turns, challenges and, sometimes, more questions than answers. When you have felt so assured of your path and calling, the insertion of others’ opinions and a lack of opportunities can cause your own thoughts to stray, forcing you to cross-examine why things at first fell so naturally into place and if you should continue, or if your time has run out in the realm you once confidently cherished. Read More>>

Ashley Conyers

I discovered my purpose through a process of unlearning, healing, and spiritual alignment. For years, I was chasing fulfillment in ways that left me feeling more disconnected from myself and from Jesus Christ. It wasn’t until I slowed down and started asking the hard questions – What is my identity in the Lord? What am I called to do for His glory? What was truly meaningful? – that clarity started to come. Seeking Him out made all the difference. Read More>>

Tia Coles

My mom loved to tell the story of the Christmas letter. She kept the letter right up until she passed away.

When I was 5 years old I wrote a letter to my parents asking them for nail salon for Christmas. I don’t remember the exact name of the toy that I asked for, and I’m not sure that I knew it was a nail salon but I did know that the word Salon was involved, and that’s exactly what I wanted to own one day. In the letter I said that when I grow up I’m going to have my own hair salon. Read More>>

Nubia Earth Martin

My purpose found me through my lived experiences welcoming my children into the world. Those experiences, and the way I was able to cultivate and curate what I needed, at one of the most sacred times in my life, set me on a path of living each day in my fullest potential. Everything that I do, all of the services that I offer to my community and the families that I have the honor to serve, are based on a deep reverence for “Call and Response”, and ensuring that the things that I didn’t receive and weren’t readily available to me, are present in abundance for birthing families. Read More>>

Norma Jean Moore

Any event that disrupts our everyday routines and direction is an opportunity to embrace and transform. While some bold journeys are envisioned and followed, others begin as seeds that are thrown in our path. The second was my experience. When I was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, I saw it as an opportunity to transform. The illness ravaged my body,but it actually transformed my mind and heart. It was during this time that I experienced the power of love and kindness from family, friends, health workers, and strangers. Read More>>

Lina Sánchez Salamanca

I found my purpose after my mom took me to see Star Wars The Phantom Menace 10 times when I was a kid. There’s a scene where Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon dive into a lake and swim a long distance underwater without needing to come up for air. I remember thinking how it looked so real, and wondering who made this, how they did it, and how they made it so convincing. After that I fell deeply in love with watching movies and as time went on I realized I not only enjoyed watching movies, I felt like they kept me company, they made me feel more alive.  Read More>>

Stephanie Cotsirilos

I found purpose as an author thanks to a grandmother who couldn’t read or write — and by watching rescue dogs save lives in the rubble of Mexico City’s 1985 earthquake. Until I was about twelve years old, I didn’t know my paternal Greek yiayia was illiterate — a word I dislike because she was literate in important things, like strength and determination.  Read More>>

Carol Di Prima

I found my purpose early in life when I was an elementary school student. I loved school, but I was bullied for not being able to communicate in English. My family immigrated from Italy to New York in 1958. Hence, Italian was my native language. I didn’t have any friends and used to eat lunch by myself. I was miserable and wanted to go back to Italy. Fortunately, my third-grade teacher spoke Italian, and my life made a turn for the better.  Read More>>

Ali Siegel

As a career marketer and agency brand manager, I’ve prided myself on helping clients and brands develop their creative vision, articulate their POV, and tell their brand story. In 2022, I was quickly approaching the point of burn out (250 days on a road a year will do that!), and found myself daydreaming about my own creative vision. And wondering what would happen if I went all-in on myself. Read More>>

Kyler Sullivan

Honestly, I think I really started to find my purpose during high school at Ravenscroft in Raleigh. At the time, I was all-in on footbalI. was one of the team captains and loved the camaraderie that came with sports. I was hoping to play in college, but a couple of concussions necessitated my changing that dream. Read More>>

Yessica Delgado

I discovered my purpose through my experiences in the flower industry. I was deeply troubled by the routine mutilation and destruction of flowers in traditional practices. This realization led me to seek a more sustainable and respectful way to showcase nature’s beauty. In 2023, we established Planta-La to provide an immersive showroom for hydroponic plants—plants cultivated in water without soil—allowing their intricate root systems to be visible and appreciated. Read More>>

Nikolai Shapkin

Even at 36, I’m still not sure I’ve found my purpose or what I’m meant to do in life. Everything changes so quickly—and things I loved two years ago don’t mean much to me anymore.
When it comes to business and making money, I did the math and realized I’ve tried around 50 different jobs and business ventures over the past 15 years. I was always juggling a few things at once, and that really helped me grow in terms of experience and knowledge. Read More>>

Arious Harris

A Purpose Revealed Over Time

Growing up, I never had to search for my purpose—it was always right in front of me, woven into the stories I heard and the examples set by those before me. I was raised by my great-uncle, a pastor whose devotion to faith and community was unwavering. His life was a constant display of service—whether he was preaching, mentoring, or simply making sure people knew they weren’t alone. He taught me that real purpose isn’t just about what you do, but how you show up for others. Read More>>

Farmer Suzie Dudas

The biggest and most important purpose of my life was having children, thinking about how I wanted to raise them, what mattered for their health and nutrition, both mentally and physically. I completely changed my lifestyle to provide the best for them. Starting a farm allowed me to grow good food and give my children the freedom to play outside on the land. Read More>>

Cynthia Respert

Finding my purpose has been a beautiful and progressive journey. I’ve always loved bringing bold visions to life and creatively solving problems. I am always in search of “a better, more efficient way” to accomplish a goal (which drives my husband crazy!). I thrive at the intersection of creativity and efficiency! Systems and impactful solutions have always been my thing—but about a decade into my career in Supply Chain and Logistics within manufacturing environments at Fortune 100 companies, I began craving a more tangible and human-centered impact. That desire sparked the first major pivot from my traditional path. Read More>>

Marcella Franczkowski

As early as elementary school, I played teacher in the basement of my family’s Baltimore home. I set up tables and chairs and my little chalkboard and created a classroom and taught my dolls. This was the earliest sign of a passion that would drive my purpose. My family was very active in our community church, and from middle school on, I began to assist with Sunday school teaching. I became the lead teacher by high school and remained such through college, traveling back home each weekend to happily fulfill my duties. Read More>>

Samella Watson

I didn’t find my purpose—it reintroduced itself to me.

It was always there, hiding in plain sight since childhood, but buried under the pressure to produce quick results and survive. It was masked by the cultural inheritances I never consented to but carried anyway. My purpose began to reveal itself the moment I stopped seeking permission and started listening to the inner me—while allowing that still, small voice to lead the way. Read More>>

Trevor Seybold

Being raised in a family of tradesmen, I was immersed in the art of building from an early age. The fundamentals of constructing sturdy, reliable structures became second nature to me, and I quickly discovered an innate passion for working with my hands. My childhood was filled with creativity and construction—I built elaborate erector sets and intricate Lego cities. As I grew older, this passion evolved into a love for craftsmanship, from constructing custom car stereo boxes to designing intricate skateboard ramps. Read More>>

Koya Matsuno

Looking back, I think the first spark of my purpose came while working on microfinance projects in Ghana and Central America during my time at UCLA. I was deeply inspired by how local communities—often overlooked by traditional systems—were coming together to create sustainable financial networks. There was a strong sense of entrepreneurial energy in these markets, a kind of raw ambition and problem-solving spirit that really moved me. It made me realize I wanted to be part of something that helped money flow more efficiently and fairly, especially in places full of potential but often starved of opportunity. Read More>>

Ritu Pancholy

For years, I climbed the corporate ladder—starting in big law, then moving into government, and eventually landing in-house as a litigation, employment, and compliance attorney. Along the way, I realized that what truly lit me up wasn’t just the legal work—it was the opportunity to make workplaces better. I found myself most energized by the work that centered on building healthy, positive cultures and conducting fair, thorough investigations to ensure employees felt heard and respected. Read More>>

Shannon Fleener

At the heart of it, I’ve always been driven by a desire to help people. When it came time to choose a college major, I was naturally drawn to psychology and social work, eventually earning my B.S.W. with the hope of making a meaningful difference. Many years later, I discovered the CFP® designation—and I was instantly hooked. It genuinely felt “right” from the very beginning. Read More>>

Mekenna

For a long time, I thought purpose was something you just knew—one clear thing, one straight path. But mine never showed up like that and it caused so much frustration early on in my life. It seemed like everyone but me knew their purpose.

For me, finding my purpose has felt more like an excruciatingly slow excavation process. Something I only discovered thanks to an innumerable amount of small, seemingly insignificant actions I’ve taken over a long period of time. Read More>>

Leo Monts

I didn’t find my purpose, it found me. When I first got to Dublin, Ireland in 2022, I had very little purpose. I knew I wanted to be a filmmaker, but I had only produced a few short films and music videos, none I was especially proud of, and I didn’t know why I was going to Ireland, besides trying to get work on set and learn more about my heritage. That’s when I realized I had moved straight into one of the worst housing crises in the world. Read More>>

 Christopher McCarthy

For decades, my career revolved around sales and marketing. I was not a standout, but I could do just enough to not get fired for a few years. At least that’s how long it would take people to figure out I could talk a great game, but lacked the ability to actually deliver.

During those years my partner was, well let’s just say not interested in running a household. So, it was thrust upon me to take care of our three children. I would meal plan, shop, cook, clean up, do the laundry, clean the house, and make sure the kids were where they were suppose to be when they were suppose to be there. Read More>>

 Aaron Francois

I feel my purpose was in front of me the entire time. Growing up, I’ve always been the person who would mix and match friend groups. The high school football player who would geek out with the nerds over anime (before it was trending). As I went through college, I did the same thing, and it continued as I found my way into the marketing industry. This quickly turned into me having a community of people who did very different things. Read More>>

Erin Guenterberg

From a young age, I’ve had an inner drive, self-motivated to get good grades, be a good friend, do well in school, be a good worker, be a good wife, a good mom. It’s just been a part of who I am. Throughout the many roles I’ve had in life, I’ve found purpose in each of them: student, friend, social worker, wife, mother, entrepreneur, etc… Read More>>

Steven Kuzhipala

While my height has sparked conversations amongst my friends, family, and those in my tight-knit community, over time I have realized that my height was simply a surface-level trait, a mask under a more complete me, a trait that only displayed my “face-value.”

Standing at a respectable 6′ 3″ often led to predictable questions. “Do you drink a lot of milk?” In reply came a simple “No” that only intensified the mystery, making people more curious. Despite offering a straightforward answer that my family is tall, I have found that many people still seemed to probe for a more remarkable explanation. Read More>>

Jada Williams

Purpose: The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

I think that it’s safe to say that we have all pondered over what we believe our purpose to be within life. It’s daunting, exciting, ever-evolving, and existential. To some, purpose is everything, yet nothing to others. At a very young age, the question of “what is my purpose?” arose, and the exploration of my soul’s purpose was embarked quite early on. It wasn’t a lightbulb moment, nor was it a definite answer to a problem I had been trying to solve. Instead, it was more so of a realization that was intricately strung together by a culmination of my life experiences. Read More>>

Dr. Toccara Nicole Steele

Finding my purpose was a journey of self-discovery, faith, and service. It wasn’t something I stumbled upon overnight, but rather a process of embracing my own identity and realizing that everything I had experienced—both triumphs and challenges—was shaping me for something greater.

From a young age, I had a passion for storytelling and helping others see their own potential. As I navigated different roles in leadership, business, and authorship, I realized that my true calling was to empower others to unlock their authentic selves and step into their purpose. My faith played a huge role in this discovery, guiding me to understand that I wasn’t just meant to succeed—I was meant to serve. Read More>>

Shern Frederick

Becoming a father changed everything for me. It gave me a new kind of clarity—not just about who I want to be for my own children, but the leader I want to be for every child who steps onto the field with Soccer Stars. There’s something powerful about seeing the world through a kid’s eyes—the excitement, the vulnerability, the joy in being seen.

That’s where my purpose really locked in. I realized it’s not just about soccer. It’s about connection. Encouragement. Creating a space where every child feels valued and supported, whether they score a goal or just show up and try. Read More>>

Christine Winget

My purpose found me. A new me, after a long marriage.
Then
A new relationship.
Encouragement and support from family and friends.
A love of crystals.
A trip to Quartzsite with a couple grand in our pockets.
A cloudy dream.
The birth of Earth’s Candy Crystals.
Traveling and vending and sharing sweet vibe crystals. Read More>>