The World Within

The First Step Towards Dream

The next day, as usual, I went to school. My squad was waiting near Uncle Jay’s Departmental store in SQ Square. Everyone was anxious about what they were going to say in the career counseling session. Max seemed to be the least worried, as he knew exactly what he was going to say. James, on the other hand, was nervous as hell—more nervous than any of us.

“Hey, James, don’t worry about it too much. Just say what you want to be,” Max comforted him.

“Don’t worry, my child. Whatever you decide will be accepted by us. Just tell them what you have to say,” Uncle Jay said to James, patting him on the head.

This gave James a bit of confidence, and we headed off to school. At school, the atmosphere was tense, and everyone seemed anxious. Everyone was talking about what they were going to say to our homeroom teacher. But Ejeah was confident. Even though I didn’t know what he wanted to become, the glare and confidence in his eyes said it all. As for me, I was also nervous about what they were going to say. I was lost in thoughts, wondering how they would react when they heard about me.

After the lunch break, it was time for our career counseling session. Each of us was called to the office to share what we had decided. James was the first one from our squad to get "sacrificed." We were all tense about how it would go for him. But everything went well. He came out with a gentle smile on his face. This left us wondering whether we should worry about ourselves or not, given his pleasant expression. Soon, Max and Ejeah also went when their turns came. And then it was my turn. With a bit of anxiety and a heart beating at a tremendous rate, I opened the door and saw our homeroom teacher sitting at his desk, updating the records of the previous students. I asked to come in and sat on the chair next to him.

"Have you made up your mind about what you want to be?" he asked gently.

"I want to pursue liberal arts and become an author, Sir," I answered with some confidence.

"Why do you want to become an author?" he further questioned.

"I love to write. I like to describe values and shed light on ideas that are often ignored by many. It gives me a sense of self."

"Have you decided which school you want to get into?"

"Not yet."

He handed me a manual full of colleges offering different programs in liberal arts and a roadmap to achieve what you want to be.

"I have read many of your writings, and I thought you wanted to become an author. It shows in your work. Good luck, and do well in your exams," he said with a genuine smile, showing support for my decision.

"Thank you, Sir," I replied. With more confidence in me, I asked to leave and exited the room. His words gave me the courage to stand firm in my decision and try to persuade Dad.

On my way back, I encountered other teachers. They asked me what I wanted to be. I gave them the same answer. They wished me the best, but their faces didn’t seem to reflect their words. They had a disappointed look that showed they hadn’t expected this from me. To my surprise, one of them asked me to think carefully and decide wisely. They shared the common thought that someone good at studies shouldn’t "waste" their life doing things related to arts and humanities—a general perception held by the majority. But I still hoped that someone would recognize me and support what I wanted, not what others thought I should do. Although I felt disheartened after hearing their words, the encouragement from my homeroom teacher kept me from dwelling on them too much.

When I returned to class, everyone was happy. It was as if all their worries and sorrows had vanished. I went to sit in my place. Our homeroom teacher came in and announced that the first CCS had ended, and there would be another one after our exams. He said, "For those of you who have decided what you want to be, live up to your expectations, and for those who haven’t, don’t worry about it too much right now. It’s not like you’re going to become what you want to be the next day. This is just to help you decide where you want your life to go. Give yourself enough time to think about what you want to do and how you will achieve your goals. Discuss this with your parents, with us, your siblings, or whoever you want to. Never hesitate to ask. Experience gives better clarity than knowledge. Also, choose your goals where you not only enjoy being at your destination but also enjoy the journey that will take you there. Good luck with your exams." These words gave everyone enough courage to not hold back and to look for ways to achieve their dreams.
Our school hours ended, and we went back home.

After supper, I told Pit what had happened today and shared the words of encouragement given by our homeroom teacher. Sometimes a few words of discouragement can tear your trust into pieces, and a simple word of support can give you the courage to tackle your challenges and prove others wrong. If your determination is firm, even a single supporter can help you put up a tough battle; but if your determination is weak, even with the support of hundreds, you have a greater probability of losing. With this, I ended my conversation and went to study for the upcoming exams.