Believing in Purpose, Believing in Yourself: My journey with The Purpose Coalition

My name is Kasia, I am a Lab Student Ambassador from GBS in Birmingham. I am truly grateful to share my journey as part of The Purpose Coalition. 

Being involved in this project has been far more than an academic experience. It has been a journey of personal growth, reflection, and belief. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to think differently about purpose, opportunity, and the role organisations play in shaping a fairer society. This experience didn’t just challenge how I see the world, it challenged how I see myself. 

One of the most powerful lessons I take away from this journey is awareness. Through the sessions, I gained a deeper understanding of how complex issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to opportunity truly are. These challenges are not caused by a single problem, and they cannot be solved by one organisation alone. Hearing from social enterprises and partners showed me the importance of collaboration, patience, and long-term commitment. Real change takes time, and it takes people working together with intention and empathy. 

This experience also helped me find my voice. 

Being invited to share my thoughts, question language, and challenge ideas made me realise that my perspective matters. I became more aware of how powerful words can be, how they can either open doors or quietly create barriers. I learned that young people are not just observers of change. We are contributors. We are storytellers. We have the ability to shape narratives, influence conversations, and inspire action. 

Confidence was something I didn’t even realise I was building until I looked back. With every discussion, every reflection, and every moment of encouragement, I began to believe more in myself. I learned that confidence doesn’t come from having all the answers - it comes from being willing to ask questions, to listen, and to speak honestly. 

Emotionally, this journey has been deeply inspiring. Listening to real stories of resilience, determination, and impact reminded me why purpose-led work matters so much. These stories gave me hope, hope that when organisations genuinely listen, act fairly, and treat people with dignity, meaningful change is possible. Not perfect change, but real, human change that improves lives. 

The Purpose Coalition stands as a powerful reminder that barriers can be broken. It shows that opportunities can be created, even when the path feels uncertain or difficult. For me, this experience reinforced something incredibly important: we should never give up on ourselves. Even in moments of doubt, even when the journey feels overwhelming, our belief has power. 

Believing in purpose also means believing that we each have something valuable to contribute. Change doesn’t only belong to leaders, institutions, or policymakers. It belongs to students, young people, and individuals who care enough to ask, “How can this be better?” Purpose is not just an idea, it is something we live, share, and build together through our actions. 

This project has left me feeling motivated, empowered, and proud. Proud of the conversations we’ve had, the learning we’ve shared, and the growth I’ve experienced. It has encouraged me to think more critically, speak more confidently, and trust that I can contribute to positive change, not someday in the future, but now. 

If there is one message, I hope people take from this, it is this: everything is possible when we choose to believe. Believe in purpose. Believe in collaboration. And most importantly, believe in yourself. Because when we do, we don’t just imagine a better future, we help create it. 

By Katarzyna Luczak – GBS students and Purpose Lab student ambassador