The Dream

What do you want to be when you grow up? This is the oh-so-famous question that every parent, or just adults in general, love asking children. From as young as I could remember, I've always had the dream to be a doctor. I don't know if its because I like the idea of being able to save someone's life or because its the only few occupations I get to interact with at that age. 

So I've always held on to this dream and believe that I could one day make it happen. But things change after I completed my secondary school education. My O level results were pretty bad and I knew from that moment that I'm not cut out to be a doctor. With my results, I could not get into the science course I need and even if I did, I would struggle a lot because I'm not a Math/Science person. So I made the worst decision ever to go into a junior college that I hate and take the subjects that I wasn't even the least bit interested in. Its a surprise how I manage to stay in such a horrible place for year. But anyway, when a new school year started, I knew I had to leave because that place just wasn't right for me. 

At that point in time, I still didn't know where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. But somehow, when it was time for me to apply to get into a polytechnic, it suddenly occurred to me that I wanted to go into a course that allows me to deal with children. I applied for the Diploma in Child Psychology and Early Education and got in. I went in not knowing what the course is about or whether or not its what I want. I've definitely struggled in my first year and have even thought about leaving. But something in me told me to just stick around for a while more. Now that I'm almost graduating, I can safely say that going to that school and taking up this diploma is one of the best decisions of my life and I've never looked back since.

Source

From wanting to be a doctor to wanting to be an occupational therapist, that's perfectly fine right? During my final internship, I was very inspired by the occupational therapist and decided that that's what I want to do. Although the diploma I'm in now will not allow me to be an occupational therapist or to study in a local university, I know I can go overseas to further my studies or I can at least take the first step by getting a job as a therapy assistant to gain some experience. There is no such thing as the "correct" route to take to reach a place. Sometimes, you just have to go with the options that are available at that point in time.

Chasing after your dream is never easy. But only being able to wish that you could live your dream is worst. If you have something that you are very passionate about, something you're willing to do for free, DO IT. Do whatever it takes to make sure you get there. When one door closes, find another one. If you have to take a longer route, so be it. When people say you can't do it, that is based on what they think of you, not what you're really made of. When other people do better than you, work even harder. When there are obstacles place in your way, move them away. Never give up on your dream, unless YOU don't want it anymore.