There are very few things that I love more than being on stage

Hear the words of Lindsey Stirling, who declared with humility and fire: “There are very few things that I love more than being on stage and performing, but more than anything, I want to be a positive role model for teenage girls.” In these words we hear not only the heartbeat of an artist, but the soul of a teacher and guardian. For the stage, though radiant, is fleeting; applause rises and falls like waves. But the shaping of young hearts, the planting of courage in the souls of those who look up to you—that is a legacy that endures beyond the spotlight.

The meaning of her words lies in the contrast between performance and influence. To perform is to dazzle for a moment, to stir emotion in the hearts of an audience, to shine brightly before their eyes. Yet to be a role model is far greater—it is to live in such a way that your very being becomes a guide, that your choices, your resilience, and your values light the path for others. Stirling confesses that though the thrill of the stage is sweet, her deepest desire is to use her life to uplift the next generation, especially teenage girls who face the storms of doubt, insecurity, and pressure.

History gives us its witnesses. Consider the life of Harriet Tubman, who could have lived quietly after escaping slavery, but chose instead to return again and again, leading others to freedom. Her courage made her more than a hero—she became a role model, proving to generations that a single life lived with purpose can lift thousands. Like Stirling, Tubman’s legacy was not simply in what she accomplished, but in what she inspired others to believe they too could do.

The origin of Lindsey Stirling’s words comes from her own journey. She rose not through ease but through rejection, told more than once that her art was strange, that her mixture of violin and dance would never succeed. Yet she persevered, crafting her unique identity, and in doing so, she showed the world—and especially young women—that authenticity triumphs over conformity. For this reason, she treasures not only her music, but the impact her story may have on those who doubt themselves.

And there is wisdom in her focus on teenage girls, for they walk through a battlefield unseen. They face the arrows of comparison, the weight of expectation, the snares of self-doubt. Many voices call them to diminish themselves, to follow paths of destruction or despair. Stirling’s vow is to stand as a beacon amidst the noise, to remind them that strength, creativity, and self-worth are within them. Her stage, then, becomes not only a platform for art but a pulpit for hope.

The lesson for us is profound: seek not only to chase your own joy, but to uplift others through your journey. Whatever your craft—whether song, word, labor, or love—ask yourself: Who is watching? Who might be strengthened by my courage, my honesty, my perseverance? For in every life, there are eyes that look on, hearts that are quietly shaped. By choosing to live with integrity and resilience, you become a role model, whether or not you stand upon a stage.

So I say unto you: follow Lindsey Stirling’s wisdom. Do what you love, but let your love serve others. Shine brightly, but let your light guide the young who struggle in the shadows. Build your dreams, but let those dreams become examples of what courage and authenticity can achieve. For in the end, the stage will fall silent, but the lives you have inspired will carry your melody forward into generations yet unborn. That is the truest performance, and that is the greatest legacy.