Thread by @greaterbayo

Monday Motivation: Good Things Happen To Those Who Dream Big

We were seatmates in the latter period of my secondary school days.

A Thread

I remember that as we discussed in class that day about our university plans, I told her I will be the President of the Students Union of the University of Ibadan.

I was 16 years then but I always read about the exploits of students unionists such as Big Sam and others anytime I perused my dad's newspapers during the holidays. That was my dream- I saw myself addressing huge crowds on the university campus.

We left secondary school and my effort to get admission at the University of Ibadan failed. I actually got an offer to study Geography at UI but I declined as I wanted to study Engineering.

I had to wait for a year while going through extramural classes and sitting for another exam.

Eventually, I got admitted at Lautech to study Mechanical Engineering. Though I missed UI but my dream was still intact. Dreams don't have expiry dates- so I carried my dream over.

Dreams, just like goals, are made of several building blocks- a little here and a little there. So in 100Level, I became the General Secretary of my Hall. In 200Level, I became the Deputy Speaker. In 300Level, I threw my hat in the ring and contested for the Presidency.

Finally, I was about to live the dream I carried around since my secondary school. I didn't allow the change in environment to affect the validity of my dream.

It was a hotly contested race but I failed. I came a close second out of 4 candidates.

I actually lost to the winner by 52 votes. That made it a very difficult loss for me to process. I had actually given up and decided to concentrate on my studies. At least, I tried. But then, I got a letter from my former seatmate in secondary school.

It was a letter that would rekindle my hope and inspire me all over again. She attended another University in the South West but heard that I contested for the Presidency and lost.

In that letter, she reminded me of what we discussed that afternoon in class and encouraged me to try again. As I read her letter, I felt tears stream down my face as I made up my mind to try again.

In 400Level, I made another attempt and this time, I won.

This time, it was a landslide.

Do you have a dream? Don't give up on it even when circumstances or environment seem to negate the fulfillment of that dream. Your dreams are valid irrespective of your geography.

You may need to restrategize or build slowly but keep moving in the direction of your dream. It may take time and a lot of tears, sweat and blood but the ultimate satisfaction that living your dream will give you is unlike any other. Dreams are free so dream freely.

Don't dream small dreams. Life is too short to dream small dreams. Dream big. Be audacious. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and work. Your dream is concretized by the efforts you put in. But the foundation is that dream. Revive that dream.

Don't let it die. Good things happen to those who dream big.

The End

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