Your Own North Star

Lexile: 1010 | Grade: 7

Passage

Not every path is marked. Not every goal is loud. Some journeys begin with a whisper—a small voice inside that says, 'Try this,' or 'Go there.'

That voice doesn’t always speak in full sentences. Sometimes it arrives as a feeling: curiosity, discomfort, or a sudden question. It may not come with applause or clear signs. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

In a world full of noise—opinions, comparisons, instructions—it can be hard to hear your own direction. But just because others are walking one way doesn’t mean it’s the only way.

The North Star has guided travelers for centuries—not by shouting, but by being constant. In the same way, your values, interests, and questions can guide you, even if they seem quiet or different.

You don’t have to know the whole map to take one step. You don’t need perfect confidence to begin. What matters is listening—to the parts of yourself that speak through wonder, effort, and hope.

So follow your own North Star. Even if others don’t see it. Even if the sky is cloudy. Trust that direction grows stronger as you walk. And that becoming who you are doesn’t always require permission—just the courage to begin.