She stepped into the world of acting at just 11 years old and has since captivated the world with her music. Whether it’s Facebook and Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, her hits like “Please Please Please” and “Espresso” are everywhere. At just 25, Sabrina Carpenter has made waves—from being on Time magazine’s list of influential people to gracing the Grammy stage. Today, let’s draw some inspiration from her story.
Learning to Be the Turtle
As a child, there was something I heard often—my mom called me “Turtle.” Yes, the turtle from the famous tale of “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Whenever I got restless, she’d remind me, “Sabrina, don’t be anxious. You’re the turtle. Be like the turtle. Everything will be fine.” At the time, it annoyed me. Why was she asking me to be slow and steady? But as I grew older, I realized that being a turtle isn’t such a bad thing.
Uncertain times, moments of despair, and difficulties in life often lead us to break down or become impatient. But staying calm during tough times and learning from those situations teaches us resilience. That’s why, from a young age, I’ve learned to be the turtle, to stay grounded. Even now, I want to keep growing, slowly but surely.
This is also why I approach every task I take on with patience and without forcing myself unnecessarily. Whatever inspires me, I give my all to it. I don’t believe in pressuring myself to focus on too many things at once.
Learning from Mistakes
Every mistake gives us an opportunity to rediscover ourselves. Think about it—if I hadn’t worn horrible outfits at the age of 13, I might not have understood what styles make me feel confident today. It’s because of my past mistakes that I’ve become who I am now. Looking back at those mistakes, I can proudly say, “Yes, I’ve grown.” That realization brings me immense satisfaction.
Childhood Struggles
At a young age, singing brought me a lot of ridicule. Even though I did well in school, I faced so much mockery that I had to leave and switch to homeschooling. Homeschooling felt like a safe haven for me. Since I didn’t grow up following the traditional path and started working at an early age, I missed out on many typical childhood memories. But I have no regrets about this.
Many people felt sorry for me, thinking I was fulfilling my parents’ dreams by working so young. But since I was 11, I’ve been explaining to people that singing and acting aren’t for my parents—they’re for me.
Growing Up Isn’t Easy
Transitioning from a child star to an adult isn’t an easy journey. When people accept you as a child artist, they often struggle to see you as an adult later on. I wasn’t an exception to this. My journey from being a child to an adult was equally challenging. However, as I mentioned earlier, I’m a turtle—I didn’t rush through it. I didn’t try to speed through the difficulties in a chaotic way. Instead, I took my time, doing what felt right at each stage of life. This steady approach allowed me to enjoy the process of growing up.
What I’d Tell My Younger Self
As we grow older, we become more self-aware. But as kids, we lack the ability to judge things critically. At that age, life feels like a carefree joyride—everything seems fine, and we think, “What could possibly go wrong?”
If I could talk to my younger self, I’d say, “Be a bit wiser. Be more cautious about the people around you. You don’t need to be friends with everyone, and it’s not necessary to please everyone all the time.” No matter how hard we try, there will always be people who won’t like us. But as kids, we don’t understand that. We try to be friends with everyone, and in the end, that failed effort leaves scars on our hearts. If I could, I’d protect my younger self from those scars.
Rejection is Redirection
The importance of being discerning is something I’ve come to realize at every stage of life. I want everyone to have this realization and start listening to their inner voice. There’s a saying: “Rejection is redirection.” At one time, this seemed like an outdated cliché to me. But now I understand it’s always relevant and true.
Every failure has led me to try again, to strive harder, and eventually to succeed. Rejection, I now believe, is just a guidepost to a new path. We must hold onto this belief like a mantra.