When Your Dreams Become Real

When I got to college, my entire world flipped upside down. I had always been adventurous, with successes most people don’t experience in their younger years, but nothing prepared me for the jarring experience of leaving the nest and diving headfirst into a completely new world. I was exhausted, confused, and incredibly overwhelmed.

I’d walk by coffee shops and see people engrossed in their screens, sipping impossibly complicated drinks, looking like they had life all figured out. They wore round glasses and minimalist clothing, and their conversations were like a foreign language—so full of depth and topics I never even knew existed.

Classes started, and I took my seat in freshman sociology, wondering if anyone else felt as out of place as I did. Then my professor began to share his story, a moment that has stuck with me ever since: “I have my PhD now, but I failed out of college my first few tries. I didn’t fit in, didn’t understand what I cared about, or how I could contribute to the world.”

I sat up a little straighter that day, breathing a sigh of relief. Here was someone in this strange new world who gave hope to people like me—those of us who didn’t have it all figured out. I didn’t know it then, but his example would anchor me as I navigated life outside of small-town USA.

Fast forward to today, and I find myself sitting in a Starbucks. I’m wearing a carefully curated thrifted outfit, sipping my custom-ordered drink, and working on my voice for the world I’ve worked so hard to curate. Over the past week, I’ve caught myself smiling endlessly over little moments, thinking, Finally.

I’ve been stubborn—choosing paths and experiences that would refine my sense of purpose in this world. And now, I want to let you know that you can do it too. It’s not about just saying, “You can do it” but about reminding you that every step, every messy, chaotic moment of your journey, is exactly where you need to be.

Right now, you’re being asked to choose you—to be present and fully alive, even when life feels overwhelming. That choice doesn’t just make you better for yourself; it makes you better for everyone around you. We’re all connected, all part of something bigger. But to keep moving forward, you can’t get stuck in the “What do I do next?” spiral. Just start. Move. Look around at the people who inspire you and let them give you hope.

You know what you need to do. And if you don’t? Begin by being open to possibility. Your adventure—your story—is unfolding, and it’s worth every step.