I was always very determined and ambitious, and I knew I would

Hear the words of Rachel Stevens, who confessed with honesty and hope: “I was always very determined and ambitious, and I knew I would do something that would let me travel and stuff, but I didn’t really know what I would do to get there.” These words shine a light upon the eternal struggle of youth: the certainty of a great destiny, yet the uncertainty of the path. She speaks not with arrogance, but with faith—the faith that if she held to her determination and her ambition, the road would open, though she could not yet see where it would lead.

Mark this well, O children of the journey: many stand at the gates of life with no clear map. Yet within them burns the fire of desire—to see the world, to break the boundaries of the ordinary, to live a life larger than what is set before them. The wise do not wait for certainty before stepping forward; they trust that determination is itself a compass, and that ambition is the wind that carries them into the unknown. Stevens’ words remind us that destiny is not always revealed in advance, but built step by step by those who dare to move forward without fear.

Consider the tale of Christopher Columbus, who as a young man did not know what path he would walk, yet felt within himself the longing for horizons beyond sight. He had no certain promise of success, no guarantee that his voyages would bear fruit. Yet his determination to reach new lands carried him across oceans that most feared to cross. Though history remembers him in both triumph and controversy, his story shows the truth of Stevens’ wisdom: that often, we may not know the precise work we will do, but if we pursue the fire of ambition, the path reveals itself in time.

Yet, O listeners, let us not confuse determination with stubborn blindness. The determined soul is not one who clings rigidly to a single plan, but one who adapts, bends, and endures, never losing sight of the greater vision. Stevens did not know the shape her life would take, but she trusted that whatever it was, it would lead her to the joy of travel and discovery. So too must we cultivate patience amid uncertainty. For the path of ambition is not straight—it twists, it bends, it surprises. But if we remain steadfast, even the crooked road leads us to our dream.

And note this also: the power of Stevens’ words lies in their humility. She admits she did not know exactly what she would do, and yet she pressed forward. Too many wait for perfect clarity before taking action. But life rarely grants such clarity. It is those who act in faith, who move with determination even in fog, who one day stand upon mountains and look back upon the valley they have crossed. Ambition without arrogance, determination without fear—this is the spirit that unlocks destiny.

The lesson for us is clear: do not demand that every step of your future be revealed before you begin. Instead, kindle the flame of ambition, guard the strength of determination, and set your eyes upon the horizon of what you long for. Take the first step, and then the second, and trust that each will lead you closer, even if you cannot yet name the destination. In time, your path will reveal itself, as the morning sun unveils the road once hidden in darkness.

Therefore, O seekers, let Rachel Stevens’ words be your guide: pursue with courage even when the way is unclear. Hold fast to your vision, yet remain open to the shape it may take. Let your ambition be your compass, and your determination your strength. In this way, you too will find yourself in places you once only dreamed of, living a life beyond what you could have imagined. And when you look back, you will see that though you did not know the way at the start, your courage to begin was all that was required.