“Compete with your past self, not with others.”

These are the words that Bailey G. Sage has chosen to live by. The 2024 graduate of Forest High School in Ocala honed her philosophy in the College and Career Advanced Placement program. “What I’ve had to teach myself,” she says, “is that what matters is that I’m consistently improving myself, and I don’t have to do it on anyone else’s timeline.”

Bailey’s words of wisdom ring especially true in the last two years of high school. In the whirl of stressing about grades and tests, cramming for SATs and AP exams, and navigating competitive college admissions, it’s tough not to pit yourself against those around you.

But, Bailey says, “the only one who has to live your life is you. Everyone is heading down their own path, with their own circumstances.”

For example, Bailey excels in her English classes, but she doesn’t feel as strong in math. It wouldn’t do any good to compare herself to someone with different strengths, she says, because they may also have different weaknesses. “The only basis of comparison you can truly have about your skills is your past self.”

Next year, Bailey matriculates to the University of Central Florida, consistently ranked by Niche.com as one of the best colleges in America for their campus and their English program. Earlier, she had considered attending college out of state, but the full ride offered by Bright Futures, combined with UCF’s excellent ROTC program and a Provost’s Scholarship, changed her mind.

Bailey plans to major in English because she loves the way literature and writing tap into our imaginations. “Each detail holds differing levels of significance.” She hopes to follow in her parents’ footsteps and become a teacher, having seen the way they’ve impacted students’ lives. But she won’t pursue that right away — first, she has her eyes set on a career with the U.S. Air Force.

“In high school, I signed up for AFJROTC as a way to get out of gym! I ended up loving the program: the structure, the morale, and how every job matters.” This happy accident means that at UCF, Bailey can enroll in the ROTC program and gain hands-on training and skills that will jump-start her service career. After graduation, she’ll enter the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. She plans on a full 20 years in the service, after which she’ll retire and become an English teacher.

“I want to shape the world in any way that I can.”