Some people search high and low to find it, some people take great risks to find it, and some people struggle their entire lives only to realize they still never will find it. Twenty-four-year-old singer-songwriter Griffin House is lucky — he’s already found a reason to live.

“Everybody has a purpose and a job to do,” House says. “For me, my work is making songs and trying to enhance [people’s] lives in some way. Through your work and through finding out what you’re supposed to be doing, you find your meaning.”

It didn’t take long for House to find his purpose. Once he entered college, his love for guitar developed. Joining a jam band and taking on the role of lead singer and writer was the first step toward his goal. Soon after, however, House realized his goal and passion for music was serious, unlike the rest of the band.

“[The band] wasn’t all that serious, so I kind of started writing songs and playing some shows around campus,” House says. “I had my first show at an Irish pub in Cincinnati. I walked up and asked if I could play for tips.”

That night House filled the pub with music for three hours.

“It went really well so I just kept doing it,” House says.

Currently, House is on tour with fellow guitarist Ari Hest. Leaving his band for a solo run, House will be making a stop in Ames Thursday night. Unlike Hest, who contributes his intimate stage performances to his autobiographical songs, House says he doesn’t necessarily want everyone to know if his songs are personal references.

“I think a lot of the songs are about me, they have to do with me in some way,” House says. “But it’s kind of funny that way too, because it’s very vulnerable if you admit that — then everybody knows everything about you.”

House says he writes more songs after something has “jarred” him a little bit or something has happened to him that makes him want to write it down on paper. His words don’t always flow out immediately — some songs take him a good year to finish.

“Sometimes I’ll have a melody kicking around in my head for a year or two that just doesn’t have any words to it,” House says. “Then, finally, one day, they appear our of nowhere.”

When writing, many songwriters are influenced by how they are feeling at that exact moment. Whether in love or depressed, their emotions usually leave their mark on the lyrics. For House, drawing from past experiences is more helpful. He doesn’t need to be in love to write a love song, but he can jump into that character if he wants to.

“I think you can draw from experiences or you can look at other people,” House says. “You know how actors fit roles even though they’re not necessarily that person? I think good writers are able to put themselves into [certain roles].”

House says he’s unsure of what his future will bring, but he knows he must continue to fulfill his purpose.

“My goal is to write as many songs as I possibly can and have as many people hear them as possible,” House says. “Just making the best art I’m capable of.”