Never in my childhood did I dream of being where I am now.
When I was a kid, I had two dreams.
First, I wanted to be a teacher for kids. I thought I had a talent for teaching. I would tutor my own classmates, explain how I arrive at solutions to math problems, and help them understand concepts better.
Second, I wanted to take a computer science degree. I had a knack for computers. At that time in the early 2000s, the old box-type PCs were just being introduced to schools. I’d always finish first in computer class. I grew up with older siblings who were so fast at typing and I was that youngest sibling who would observe how they could type so fast without even looking at the keyboard.
I really thought I’d definitely tick the computer science degree course, only to end up choosing an entirely different degree because I was led to a university I didn’t dream of getting into (which I do not regret! It’s a story for another writeup maybe).
Neither of those two dreams came true.
I finished a business degree and took up a master’s degree in sustainability.
Recently I’ve been thinking about where I am now and how things unfolded for me.
After I obtained my master’s, I landed a corporate job. This was a typical career path for someone with my degree. I thought that’s how I’d progress for the next 10+ years of my life—climb up the ladder, do well, earn higher salaries, and help provide for our parents.
I thought that was the dream I should work hard for. While I was well supported in my corporate career, life took a different turn.
I moved on, helped set up a non-profit, landed new roles in an international non-profit and the academe, and discovered a lot more about myself and what I enjoyed doing.
Dreams are a work in progress.
Fast forward to today, I decided to be a full-time entrepreneur.
This decision came at a point in my life where among us five siblings, I was the one who could afford to be more present for our aging parents.
Before I made this decision, I had two choices—find a job that would allow me to work remotely (which was always uncertain and could change) or set up my own business. I was already a part-time insurance entrepreneur at that time, and that helped build my courage. Maybe I could turn the work that I do for organizations into a company.
Never in my youth did I dream about having my own business and getting myself into sales.
Yet here I am! It is very challenging and thrilling at the same time.
Dreams evolve and that makes life really exciting and worth living.
You could say that my teaching dream still came true, except that I am teaching adults now and I teach them about financial planning and/or corporate sustainability. The computer skills still come in handy. The business degree became very useful in setting up the training company I’m building now.
I wish someone told me this earlier—that you don’t have to fixate over one dream, that dreams are a work-in-progress. That takes off the pressure.
Dreams evolve with your priorities, with how the world is evolving, and with what you discover about yourself along the way.
May we all discover dreams worth pursuing!