leave (one's) mark

To do something that will be remembered or that makes one famous or successful; to do something that is very important or meaningful. The actress first left her mark with her incredible performance as Lady Macbeth on Broadway. I chose to pursue a career in medical research so that I might someday leave my mark on the world with a groundbreaking discovery.

COMMON If someone or something leaves their mark or leaves a mark on someone or something, they change them or have a lasting effect on them. He now has five more years in office and would still dearly like to leave his mark on the world. I lived abroad, in Asia, for four years, and this is an experience that tends to leave its mark. Hani left an indelible mark on the politics of South Africa.