Protecting Dreams

Then, I pondered a little deeper. Of the past. Present. And the future.

We are living in interesting times. Never before in history, have we had the ability to dream freely and the opportunity to make it true. Every baby born in Singapore today, are granted that right. We are free from serving our colonial masters. Free from legislations of birth rights and racial privileges. Free from unjustified bereaucracy that opens the doors of education only for the males or wealthy or politically affiliated. Just fifty years ago, we were deprived of these basic rights. Our fathers have fought hard so we do not suffer like they did. Many had forgone their dreams, so we can live ours.

So go on. Dream. And live it. If you want to be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, architect, engineer, manager, accountant, writer, artist, composer, director or whatever your dream career is, what better time or era is there for you to realistically go for it ?

Draw it out. Chart it out. Work towards it everyday. Slowly, we are realising this. With every success story of someone close to us, we celebrate a common victory. Liberty unfolded. We begin to have more faith in ourselves and surge forward. Come, let us shape the future. It is our time. Our generation.

Do not listen to the naysayers. There are many. And they come in every shape, size and salutations. Some may come in the form of petty criminals or drug addicts who had lost the plot. They cry out that they have been marginalised, left out, unfairly treated - amongst other excuses given. Yet many still, unfortunately - manifest themselves in the form of trusted friends, uncles, aunties and even those people whom we are supposed to look up to.

I know of a Malay teacher whom had 'lost hope' with the Malay language. She believes that it is a waste of time learning it, her point being that we will not be using it in our working life later on. Its usage is merely symbolic, she argued. I shudder to think if her negativism and pessimistic views rubs on her students.

Christopher Gardner, in the movie 'Pursuit of Happyness' told this to his son :

"You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period."

Perhaps, it sums up what I have been trying to drive at.

I still have much to say actually, especially about the future. Just that perhaps, I think it may be too much to spill everything in the same entry. So there, I shall have to hold those thoughts until next time. Have a good life, and protect your dreams.