Some of Us Won’t Put Down Our Guitar

Some of us won’t put down our guitar—because purpose is louder than pressure.

During a recent conversation about purpose, passion, and showing up in spaces of influence—and in reference to the movie Sinners—a phrase was shared that has stayed with me since:

“Some of us won’t put down our guitar.”

It was more than a metaphor—it was a truth.

In our work with Next Scholar Up, we talk a lot about showing up authentically and leading with purpose. But what happens when we enter spaces where people are networking, selling, pitching, and strategizing—places where wealth, influence, and access seem to be the entry ticket? Often, we feel the pressure to conform, to speak the language of the room, to leave parts of ourselves behind just to be accepted.

But some of us… we can’t do that.

Some of us won’t put down our guitar.

Our “guitar” is the story that shaped us. It’s the dream that refuses to die. It’s our creativity, our roots, our convictions, our culture, our voice. And while the world may ask us to put it away to fit in, we know better. Because it’s that very “guitar” that got us here. It’s what makes us different.

As mentors, leaders, and scholars, we must remember: Your uniqueness isn’t a liability—it’s a bridge. It can get you into rooms, sure. But it can also shift the atmosphere once you’re there.

So, to every young person navigating professional spaces for the first time, to every creative wondering if their gifts will ever be enough, to every entrepreneur holding fast to purpose while building a brand:

Keep your guitar.

Play your sound.

Show up fully.

And know that being authentic will take you farther than imitation ever could.

Because the world doesn’t just need more professionals.

It needs more people who dare to show up whole.