Jadyn Yaskin

Submitted photo

I am a 17-year-old high school senior who is laser-focused on academic success. However, I rarely took the time to enjoy what I achieved. I was perpetually driven for more, on a treadmill for success without celebrating the journey.

Through my school’s Key Club, I started volunteering for an organization to spend time with foster children on weekends. I assumed our time together would primarily benefit the kids. I quickly found I was wrong; I’m the one who learned from them. I gained a new perspective I didn’t find in the classroom.

The foster children I met lived with less, but appeared happier than most, finding the silver lining in their days. And they inspired me. Combining my passion for creative writing with volunteer work, I started a statewide writing contest for Arizona students to write inspiring stories for some of Arizona’s thousands of foster children.

I emailed teachers, principals, superintendents and libraries. One teacher included the contest in her curriculum. Through an Instagram campaign, I estimate that I got word about the contest to 248,000 students. Chipotle, Crumbl Cookies and my parents’ business all contributed prizes.

The best part of the contest was watching the winners read their stories directly to foster children during a special event. The kids discussed their own fears and expressed new desires to write themselves.

As the daughter of business owners who once worked in the corporate world, I wonder if students and company leaders and their employees are really that different. People often focus too much on the next big goal and forget to take time to celebrate their hard work along the way. This seems especially relevant as we head into a new year.

Of course, I understand the importance of sales and making money. But take it from a teenager who hasn’t yet entered the rat race, if you take a breath, appreciate your achievements, big or small, you’ll feel better. Value yourself. Give yourself some grace. Ask yourself, when is enough enough?

Additionally, take your eye momentarily off the competition and make a genuine connection. Perhaps someone outside your natural social group or work environment. In 2025, find someone who defines success differently than you, and see what you might gain. You might even become a stronger leader.

As a 17-year-old, I still have a lot to experience and to learn. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the chase and imagine at some point, I’ll once again focus too much on the prize. I see my own parents struggle with this. But we can still try to remember these lessons as we navigate the holiday hustle and bustle and prepare to ring in the new year.

Ambitious goals are great, but I’ve learned that appreciating the journey is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves.

Editor’s note: Jadyn Yaskin of Scottsdale is a senior at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix who enjoys creative writing and volunteering. We’d like to invite teens and young adults who want to share their opinions about issues they’re passionate about to reach out to us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.