Purpose
Lucy Lopez, S8, reflects on the tension between parental expectations and personal ambition, exploring how uncertainty over purpose can shape identity, pressure, and self-discovery.
Lucy Lopez
Senior 8
Artwork by Phoebe Wenlock
Sport & Health Editor
Purpose — a word I’ve often heard, Purpose — a meaning I hate being told,
A lawyer, a journalist the words ring in my ear, That’s my future — I wish it wasn’t so clear,
My parents pushing and pushing until I want to explode, My life is mine — not yours, I scold,
Never-ending sleepless nights, Long, dreary days in a dingy classroom, Seeing no light, Something just doesn’t feel right,
Is this the life I want to lead, Or is it one of fantasy for me? Do my parents decide what I do on this earth, Or is it my privilege, my prerogative, to choose for myself?
I long to be on a stage in the spotlight, Singing and dancing — to my pure heart’s content, Is that my purpose - it brings me joy, Or was I meant for something else?