A Journey Into the Unknown

By Alex M.

Life is filled with unknowns from the day we are born until the day we die.  It is a simple truth of life.  However, you can have one of two perspectives on these unknowns, and the perspective you choose makes a huge difference in your life.  The question every person must answer is, do you run into the unknown or stay back and wait for it to come to you?

As for me, I am a planner and a perfectionist.  I like what I like, and that is it.  However, this makes changes to my life very disruptive.  Whether it be getting a job or having less free time due to school, life naturally gives changes none of us can avoid.

 

High school has taught me that these unknowns are not something to be avoided but rather something to accept.  My parents helped me learn this by pushing me out of my comfort zone time and time again.  From joining the Navigator to getting a part-time job, I have had to adapt to many changes in my life during high school.  However, I have found that going out of my comfort zone has led to great benefits for me.  While the Navigator was difficult at first, I found a love for working on a team and being a part of a newspaper I would never have found otherwise.  In the same way, my job was really difficult for me to learn, but it has allowed me to learn how to adapt in crazy circumstances, improved my ability to work with people, and granted me funds to help me pay for things like college.

 

The thing about comfort zones is that while they provide some areas of rest in your life, it is unhealthy to remain stuck in them.  God has made a huge world with a lot of varied activities, peoples, and experiences, so trying out some new adventures is just seeing what other aspects of God’s creativity we can find.  From trying new foods to scary experiences, I think that running into the unknown can be amazing.  I still struggle to do this often, and that just shows how hard it can be.

 

If you are still in high school, I would advise you to go out of your comfort zone before your life gets even busier.  For me, as I got more accustomed to high school, I found that making more friends and expanding my friend group was a great way to learn about new experiences and experience some myself.  For those who are not in high school, just know that unknowns lie in every corner of life, and sometimes the best thing is to just walk forward into them looking for how you can make the most of the situation rather than focusing on what you could lose. Unknowns are a challenge for everyone, but we can learn to face them boldly bit by bit.

Alexander M. lives in the state of Georgia in the USA, with his parents and younger sister.  He has been a student at NorthStar Academy for three full years, and this is his fourth year at the Navigator.  He enjoys being a conversation starter, playing video games like Minecraft with his friends, and talking with other students at NorthStar Academy.

🗞️Staff StoriesEIC NSA2025-2026, May 2026 Publication