PURSUING YOUR DREAMS

Imagine yourself looking through a camera. All you can see is a blur of green grass and blue sky, but nothing is clearly defined. You can see some other colours, but you have no way of knowing what they are until you focus the lens Dreams are such blurs, until they become reality Why is it vital to have a dream? Why should we pursue what we believe in?

“What do you want to be in the future?” You will have come across this question before. Whether it was a 200 word response in primary school, or an idle question from a family friend, we ’ ve all been encouraged to dream For many, possibility is endless and choice, inevitably, becomes difficult.

Mandy Luo

fly back, and stay with my grandpa who had been diagnosed with cancer I had never thought that could be it. The last time I’d see him Someone who always inspired me to be myself.

However, this wasn’t the case for me and I’m going to share my story Growing up, I always knew what I enjoyed doing and what lit the fire of my passion In an environment always surrounded by arts, I never doubted a creative career was for me This was a dream planted in my heart very early on, and encompassed every aspect of my childhood life

On my journey of self-discovery, my last year as an international student studying abroad has taught me a lot Due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t fly back to China in the past four years. However, this summer, I was finally able to

Nothing could have prepared me for the sea of emotions that would accompany the passing of my grandpa Grief and guilt enveloped me. Buffeted by the waves in a sea of shame, I had never felt less sure of every decision I had made. As if led in a cycle, I felt giant boulders around me surging up from the ground, forming a maze of bewilderment. If I had just kept more in touch with him, would that have changed something? I then started to question myself whether the decision to study abroad was correct or not, and whether I have let my parents down somehow I even asked myself if this career as an artist I had envisioned to be so early on was the best for everyone

To this point, the perfect answer is still unwritten But what I am certain of is that my grandpa would like to see me feel joy in what I choose to do The experiences of guilt and sorrow are important to reflect on But instead of being consumed by regret, I decided to take it as a precious lesson, like my grandpa would have done. I consider it as motivation for me to work harder, not only for myself but also for the people I love. Now, the question no longer remains to be if I will achieve success in being an artist

Each piece we learn about ourselves helps us focus our camera lens. Little by little, the whole picture becomes clear.

In addition, we will also learn that not all of our talents will fit into a career. Whether we lend our skills to the community or focus on a hobby, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, our dream is to be who we truly are Each piece we learn about ourselves helps us focus our camera lens Little by little, the whole picture becomes clear Finding those pieces can be painful, and the final picture may not always look exactly how we imagined it. But before turning your back on it, don’t forget that the people who change the world all feel that same fear. But what makes them different is that they choose to be stronger than their fear

Imagine yourself looking through a camera. All you can see is a blur of green grass and blue sky, but nothing is clearly defined At this stage, we are all looking through the camera that has condensed our entire future into a single image. We have in mind the dream of what inspires us, what we want to grow up inspiring others as, and what makes our community a warmer place

Dust yourself off after a fall and take it as a valuable catalyst to an even richer image.

Whatever that dream ends up becoming, your picture will be right for you Hence, don’t be caught up in hesitations and mistakes. Keep in mind that life is always bridged with sequences of challenges It is never easy, and again, greatness is never achieved without failure So dust yourself off after a fall and take it as a valuable catalyst to an even richer image