You have to have a dream or you go nowhere

Writer's note: Written in the beginning of 2008 for my attempt for Commonwealth Essay Competition. It's not so good and not so focused but it's not so terrible I guess. Enjoy.

“You have to have a dream or you go nowhere”. (Kofi Annan)

Everyone has a dream, or even more. Some may argue that they do not. However, in fact, they just have not known or decided what their dreams are. Dreams are significant in people’s life. Unfortunately, people are often discouraged to dream by the pressure of being pragmatic as they grow. Nothing can limit everyone’s dream. People are able to make their dreams come true if they try to do their best to achieve the dreams. Many successful people had to work extremely hard and failed for a myriad of times prior to chasing their dreams.

One of them is Thomas Alva Edison. His inventions including phonograph and a durable light bulb have been fundamentally influential in this world even until now. He was dropped out from school after 3 months due to his wandering mind. Her mother decided to home schooled him by herself. He had various occupations and accidents before he succeeded. He became tremendously famous that his name is used for the name of places, awards, and other items currently. However, uphill struggles had been done to realise his dreams. His experiments had made him fired and even deaf. His sacrifices definitely did not end in vain. He lighted up the world.

Another successful person is Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber that has reached the peak of Mount Everest. Initially, he was a shy small boy who spent his time reading. He found his interest in climbing at the age of 16. In 1952, his team failed because of the lack of route. He joined another team in 1953 that finally managed to conquer the gigantic monster. He suddenly earned international acclaims. Nevertheless, it was not the end. He stepped his feet on 10 other peaks in the Himalayas.

Besides his triumph over the highest mountain on earth, there are more of his deeds to be appreciated. He devoted his life to build schools and hospitals in remote areas of the Himalayas. He once told a newspaper, “They don’t give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn’t impress me at all that they leave someone lying under the rock to die.” He was referring to the climbers that only desire to achieve the top egoistically with unwillingness to concern the others along their journey. Hence, one should still be caring and considerate while pursuing his or her dreams.

The next triumphant dreamer is Kit Chan, a popular Singaporean singer. She is also an actress, a budding entrepreneur, and a writer. Her true passion was singing since she was only five. Although she had though of becoming a teacher in her teenage years, she finally decided to follow her dream to be a singer. She persevered until she succeeded. Her albums are also popular in Taiwan. She has received a number of awards as a singer.

However, Kit also pursued another childhood dream – humanitarian worker. Kit is a National Youth Ambassador for Singapore’s National Youth Council. In 2002, she received an Award for Excellence in Youth Work. “We brought some kids {in their} late teens to Cambodia to do charity work, build playgrounds and toilets. It was good for me to see how young people need to be reminded of what a good life they have.” She actually enjoys doing these humanitarian works and care about youths despite she is a famous entertainer.

These people had struggled hard before they made their dreams come true. Nonetheless, the realisation of the dreams is not the last part. They improve and do more to the society. People should learn to dream like a child, without the barrier namely ‘Be realistic’. Dream can provide a spirit to live life to the fullest. Therefore, everyone has to have dreams and pursue them. Otherwise, you go nowhere.