Dare to Dream

Original Entry Date:
September 25, 1994
Age: 11
Background:
My town had a local Children's Theatre that would put on 2 musicals a year. 5th thru 8th graders could try out. I used to (well hey I still do) love theatre so I tried out for both every year and was in 4 of the productions over the years.

Dear Diary,
Boy time flies by, its been a year since the last time I wrote. I've been writing in my Journal. I'm in the 6th grade now. Ears pierced, boy crazy, and getting friends to like me! I'm definitely on the right track. I made "Annie" as a speaking orphan "July". My sister now in HighSchool is different, she hates me now. She never was like this in gradeschool, I wish she would change. I like Stan Carroll now. I sit next to him in Math, Diagonally from him in english and homeroom and in back of him in Reading and next to him in art. I hope he gets friendlier to me he is soooo cute.

Love, Megs

Dear Megs,
So this was a pretty basic entry and I debated as to what to zero in on....your sister(don't worry, she doesn't hate you, sisters will always be there for you so never take that for granted), your crush (never happened). But then I thought back to that time in life and the one thing that made me happier than anything else....being in that play. Oh I was obsessed with that production....for a really long time after it was over. I loved performing and being on stage...I had always loved musicals and Annie was definitely one of my favorites(Sound of Music and Bye Bye Birdie were up there too). I remember singing everywhere, in the shower, up in my room, when no one else was home....ha no wonder my sister "hated" me. I was also constantly putting on productions for family members or my baby brothers if no one else would pay attention. My point is you LOVED singing, dancing, performing---you had dreams to be a STAR!

In all these years since, I have never found something I loved as much as being in those local productions. I am sad to say those dreams died with age and reality sinking in. I didn't have the talent, I was never going to make money going into something like that and thus around HighSchool, I went straight on the scholar route...honors classes, college, business school. Now, I sit behind a desk all day selling 401(k) plans. The only glimpse back to that time of pure bliss is when I get to shake it out at Zumba class, sing at the top of lungs to Adele's "Someone like you"on the radio in my car, or the best--live band karaoke!

Yes, I know that is a slightly depressing reality and I promise this entry has an upside. Instead of me trying to teach something to you, I'm instead learning something from you--from your passion and love for something. We all need to do what makes us happy in life and more importantly ---TAKE CHANCES. Is the reality that a very small percentage of people who go after their dreams actually make it. But imagine a world where nobody tried? Where would we be if Oprah just took what was given to her and never tried to be anything more? What would happen if Justin Bieber never practiced and went after his dreams? Or if Taylor Swift gave up when record producers told her she was too young? This entertainment world was built based on people who refused to be anything but extraordinary. Or maybe your dream is educational: to graduate college and have a professional career or to become a teacher, or a doctor, or a professional athlete....Whatever it is you want to be, if you love something believe in yourself and don't give up on it! Practice it, have discipline, use every outlet you can and try to make it happen. Don't be stupid about it though, make sure you have something to fall back on and be realistic if you just don't have the talent or ability but don't sell yourself short either.

But here is the part I missed, if you have dreams to be in music, TV, movies, Broadway, fashion design, sports, culinary arts etc. and just are missing the talent but still love the industry, find other ways to pursue it. Why not look into studying Communications in college and focus on production or writing? Or get into hospitality or PR. Surrounding the talent, there are so many people and professions that work behind the scenes in these high profile careers. Be one of those individuals and you can still find yourself involved in what you were passionate about. You will be far and above happier than the person that just took the easy, less risky path and settled for the expected rather than the unexpected.

So dare to dream, don't be afraid to pursue what you want to be. Nowadays, there are so many opportunities to go after dreams that were never there for me. Reality TV is a bit of a necessary evil as it has changed the landscape of television but at the same time has opened windows for individuals that were previously closed. American Idol, Top Chef, Project Runway, the Glee Project, X-Factor, America's Next Top Model--they are all about people going after their dreams. You are extraordinary and what you want to be when you grow up can happen--just don't give up on yourself. So go be someone--make a difference and make your dreams come true!