Language & Logic

Reading Little Women alongside the article made me reflect on my own ambition. Like Jo, I want to follow my passions, but I also feel the pressure of comparison and expectation. Most importantly, I realized there is no single model of ambition: Meg’s stability, Jo’s independence, Amy’s balance, and Beth’s selflessness are all valid. For me, ambition looks like discipline in 5:30 a.m. swims, curiosity in writing essays, and courage to choose meaningful challenges instead of easy ones. That, more than anyone else’s definition of success, is the future I want to build.

The line that stayed with me most is when Jo declares, “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” I admire her refusal to let society shape her choices. It made me realize that ambition feels strongest when it grows from inside rather than being forced by others. When it matches identity, it gives energy; when it doesn’t, it becomes more of a burden than a strength.