Running Towards Balance:  A special guest blog from one of our GFF Teen Ambassadors

Meet Owen Anderson, a junior at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. Owen brings energy and leadership to The Goldfinch Foundation as our Co-Chair of Development. When he’s not helping advance GFF’s mission, you can usually find him on the tennis courts or running on the track—or through the streets of Nashville—where he finds focus, resilience, and balance.

I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to stay busy. I play sports, keep those grades up, and try to fit in activities for that transcript, and spend time with family and friends whenever I can. To most, this sounds like your typical high school teenager, and on the outside, it looks like I have everything all balanced. However, like most people my age, there are times when the pressure mounts and negativity takes its toll on me. Times where I feel like I’ve reached a breaking point. It is in these moments that I recognize the value of mental health.

Getting involved with The Goldfinch Foundation helped me realize that most other kids go through the same thing; they just don’t talk about it. I believe I have become more emotionally aware and introspective due to this realization, approaching people and their actions with a more empathetic perspective. The Foundation’s focus on creating a community that’s aware of mental health gives me the security needed to be genuine about my own thoughts.

For me, sports has become one of the best ways to take care of myself mentally. Track season is the time I can clear my thoughts, let go of the day, and just move as quickly as I can. Something is oddly calming after that adrenaline rush and the mechanical sound of my spikes hitting the rubber. It’s just me versus the stopwatch, and every millisecond encourages me to breathe and focus in on the moment. When I don’t have that, I head out to the courts with my brother or friends to play a match of tennis. The consistency soothes me; each time I lace up my shoes, I am faced with the same rulebook, the same forehand technique, and the same competitive spirit letting me blow off steam. Tennis showed me that keeping cool makes all the difference. When I get tense, my shots suffer, and I’ve learned that life works the same way. While all other aspects of life change, the courts and the track remain. 

What I’ve gained most from the Goldfinch Foundation is perspective. Everyone, from every neighborhood in every city, faces challenges. In this era, the topic of mental health is becoming prevalent, gaining the recognition it deserves.  I hear it everywhere in the media . The other night, for example, I heard the CBS Nightly News anchor discuss this new loneliness epidemic. Our smartphones don’t actually connect us– rather, they encapsulate us into niche data and echo chambers rather than projecting us into the real world. Being part of a community that talks openly about mental health gives me hope for the future. It has made me more comfortable checking on friends, asking for help, and just discussing my overall emotions. I hope the GFF can impact more people than just my South Nashville bubble. 

The Goldfinch Foundation has reminded me that overcoming the challenges in life isn’t based on sheer mental fortitude. Rather, you overcome these challenges by leading a fulfilling life; one filled with a supportive community filled with friends that give you a sense of belonging. Once you have the courage to pursue who you truly want to be, the other things seem to fall into place.

Owen Anderson

Montgomery Bell Academy, Class of 2027

Co-chair of Development and Teen Ambassador, The Goldfinch Foundation

Today’s young people face immense pressure around performance, identity, and purpose—often without a safe space to process it. The READY Program (Resilience, Empathy, and Authenticity for Developing Young Adults), co-founded by Jackson Appelt, a second year medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and member of the Goldfinch Foundation medical team, offers guided peer-led circles that help teens and young adults build resilience, self-awareness, and authentic connection.

This is not a program for perfection. It is a community for those willing to practice courage, clarity, and care for others.

If this mission resonates — for yourself, your student, or someone you know — we would be honored to welcome you into the next READY cohort.

Starting Tuesday, November 5th we will begin our next virtual session for two cohorts (ages 15–18 and 18–25).

Sponsoring a Goldfinch Foundation event is a powerful way to support youth mental health and empower the next generation. From the GFF Pickleball Classic to our Into the Light Sunrise 5K and annual Illumination celebration, each event strengthens connection, creativity, and community. Check out the details below to see how you can support the Pickleball Classic, or email hello@thegff.org to learn more about sponsoring other future events.

Together, we can empower youth to thrive in mind, body, and community.

Get ready to play for a great cause!

The Goldfinch Foundation is hosting a fun-filled Pickleball Tournament at Pickleball Kingdom on November 2nd, 2025 — and you’re invited! Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, this is a great way to connect, have fun, and support our community. Spots are limited, so don’t wait to register your team!