"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."-Eleanor Roosevelt
What is a dream? Is a dream different than a personal goal? Is a persons dreams influenced by their surroundings? Is it necessary to have dreams?
When I was a younger, I had many dreams. Things that I wanted to do with my life and the person that I wanted to become. In a perfect world my dreams were to become rich, live in a mansion, have 5 children (who I could taxi around to soccer practice) and be married to a handsome, kind, giving man. I used to ride around on my bicycle living this "fantasy life". However, as I grew older I began to realize that this "fantasy life" was very unrealistic and began to focus on practical goals and dreams. I was first exposed to my dream job when I was 11 years old. My mother, a Teacher's Aid, asked me to come to her school to volunteer at their annual fun day. I was immediately sold and was anxiously counting down the days. I spent the entire sports day with young children begging to hold my hand as we went for a walk, laughing, reading stories and most importantly having fun. I came home completely convinced that my dream job was to be an elementary school teacher. This initial exposure helped set my life on path and refocused who I wanted to become.
In my last year of middle school, I was influenced greatly by a leadership teacher who helped me step out of my shy bubble and become a leader, and my involvement in leadership as a leader has only expanded and evolved from there. I did not realize at the time, but this leadership teacher was giving me the stepping stones to the skills I would need to have as a teacher: leading others in a way that they can follow, having strong communication and connections with people and staying organized. My other dream is not only to become an elementary school teacher, but to take my knowledge and spread it in a third world country-- specifically Africa. This decision was heavily influenced after I went on a humanitarian trip to Ecuador, South America and experienced the beauty of love, kindness and sharing without materialistic items.
I believe that it is important for people to have dreams and if not dreams goals for themselves. They do not discriminate against a persons financial status, appearance and inhibition. In life, people always should have something to shoot for and something to be proud of.
Eleanor Roosevelt was right, those who believe in the potential of their dreams have a future. And if those people do not believe in their own dreams and goals, who is going to?
