When we are kids, big dreams seem an easy feat. The entire world is handed to us by our parents and family making us believe the work is easy. As we grow up we learn that the world is not all laughs and smiles. Dreams are much harder to achieve. Not every relationship is a happy ending. Not every friendship is perfect. Not every dream comes true. Not every family stays together.
When I was young, people would always ask: "what do you want to do when you grow up?" For which I had simply answered I wanted to be a teacher. That dream disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Then it was a zoo worker. Well, that was never a huge dream so it dissolved too.
I started wondering if I could do anything at all. I was a very problematic kid, not very liked not very popular. I started wondering if dreams were worth chasing, of corse Disney always says so, but who listens to a talking fairy or a talking mouse anymore when they turn 15?
When I grew older, I learned just exactly who.
So, now as I was 11 I start wondering what I want to do with my life. Telling myself I'll figure it out when I grow up. I'm 15 now, and I'm pretty sure I've figured out where my heart landed.
There's a movie, a very certain story. This is not the story of fairytales and perfect lives. No, this is a story on reality. Remember this story mention, I will discuss it soon.
See, as a young teen I had depression, much like a lot of other young teens gets. I didn't know what I wanted to be, or if I could even be anything. I was useless, always getting in people's way. But now, now I see what I've been waiting for.
So do you remember the story I mentioned? Good. This story is unlike any fairytale, but a true story that actually happened. This is the story of a little dolphin, with a big issue. This little dolphin taught people that they could. This dolphins name? Winter.
She lost her tale due to a crab trap and got stranded on the sand to die. A young boy named Nathan found her and rescued her. Her tale was badly infected and had to be removed.
You may be asking yourself: But how will a dolphin swim without a tale? She will die! That's where you are wrong. This dolphin did not give up, and with the help of CMA she regained her strength and is healthy as ever. Swimming with a prosthetic tale.
Nathan, He soon became a worker at Clearwater Marine Aquarium and works with animals everyday. Huge inspiration he is.
Now as beautiful as that story is, it struck interest through me. And when you get interested in stuff, you want to know more right? Of corse, so I did research. A lot of research.
Two years ago I decided what I wanted to do with my life, and my decision is to be a Marine Biologist so I can help animals too. Not just any Marine Biologist, but one that works at CMA so that little dolphin can always tell me that I CAN.
Me and my family visited CMA this weekend, just yesterday. And it was incredible. Winter is an inspiration and she helped me find where my heart is. This visit assured me with what I want to do with my life, and I'm so proud of myself. (Tattoo artist is a side job.)
When we left Clearwater, I felt different and like I had left something.
Now I know, I have been changed and proved to myself that that's what I want to do with my life. And what I left? Well. I left my heart with that dolphin in Florida. And one day, I will return, not to take it back but to stay with it.
Florida is where my heart is, and remains my dream and goal. As a 15 year old I now realize dreams can be achieved. But not by someone handing them down to you, but even better. By you working for them yourself.
And damn does it feel good to know my purpose and to have a goal.
Shoot high guys. You will make it. Don't rely on others to give you everything. Be independent and show them you can do it yourself because you can. Winter did it, and that dolphin has no tale! But guess what? She's alive and well and famous, shinning brighter then anything I've ever seen. So if a dolphin can do it, you can too.
Stay happy not crappy, life's a bitch don't quit.
If you're not smiling, you're doing it, WRONG.
PEACE OUT!
