| Teen Voice: Dream on | |
| November 10, 2011 Teen columnist, Kayleigh Schadwinkel | |
 “All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible,” T. E. Lawrence. The world has made us believe that dreams were only meant for bedtime but many determined individuals throughout the centuries have proven this theory wrong. Dreams were meant for action! All dreams begin with a goal, a goal to achieve, accomplish or become something bigger than one had only dreamed of. A dream correlates with a goal. It is seeking something that is realistically accomplishable and then setting out to achieve it. In order for one to accomplish their dreams, a person must acquire some key characteristics. They are determination, endurance, passion, and courage. Determination is the mental focus to not give up. It’s the will to have a vision and being determined to acquire it. The second characteristic, endurance, is weathering the storm even when all hope is lost. Having this quality will help anyone to press forward even when obstacles arise. Also, one must have passion for their dream; for passion is what makes the dream worth fighting for. Lastly, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them,” said Walt Disney. Courage is what helps the dreamers to step out of the crowd and to take action on what they believe. All these characteristics are crucial for one to accomplish their dreams. One man in particular inspired the world to dream. He had a dream of a different and better America for all, regardless of their race. He dreamt of this country to be in unity and to work together for one cause. Many tried to hinder his vision but he endured, to allow this dream to become reality. Sadly, this man died for his cause. This man, Martin Luther King Jr., influenced America and his courage still lives on even after his death. For me, I am living my childhood dream. Ever since I was little I have dreamed of playing varsity volleyball for my dad, Craig Schadwinkel, and being able to step on the court to be like those who have played before me. These players have inspired my team to leave our legacy at Gering High School. This year, the Lord has blessed me with a successful senior year of volleyball. My volleyball team won our fourth consecutive Western Conference title and back to back B-6 District championships. Because of this, we have earned a ticket to Grand Island for the State Volleyball Tournament. Regardless of the outcome of this Thursday’s game, I am blessed to have my high school career at Gering come to a close in Grand Island. Granted, the road to achieving my dream wasn’t easy with many speed bumps along the way, but determination and endurance has kept me motivated to strive to achieve my dreams and goals. The road to accomplishing my childhood dreams has been a memorable journey and even better than what I had dreamt of! So I challenge you to, as this anonymous quote suggests, “Dream a size to big, so you can grow into them!” Set realistic goals to try and achieve. Expand your surroundingss and to take a risk in order to accomplish them. Be courageous to allow your own dreams to become a reality! Also, encourage others to have limitless dreams. You never know whose dream could impact the world and our future. Remember, you are never too old to dream and achieve. Lastly, enjoy the ride of achieving your dream! The road won’t be easy, but in the end, it is so worth it! As Gail Devers once said, “Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember ,all things are possible for those who believe.” The1973 hit song from the band, Areosmith, sums up this idea best, "dream on!" Read more by Teen columnist, Kayleigh Schadwinkel |
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