A reflection on dreams and graduations

    It’s graduation season in the United States. The Class of 2022 is getting ready to go out on their own, whether they are going off to college or entering the workforce. Here is the one thing that I say for certain about gradates; they are all trying … no matter how many layers of senioritis it is hidden underneath. They are trying to soak up every last moment in this stage of life. They are trying to finish the drill and be their best self. They are trying to find the best job, live the life they dream of and find what drives them. Whether they are trying to design the coolest dorm room or trying to land a job in their dream city, they are trying really hard. 

    We are told when we are young that we can do anything if we believe, but at some point in life, this stops. We are told to think practically, stay in line, and do just enough to get by. We are judged for being too much or too extra. We are laughed at for pursuing our goals. We look back and cringe at the times when we were unapologetically ourselves. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, we tend to lose those big dreams we once fully believed we could accomplish and achieve because we’re too busy, it’d never work out, or people would laugh at us.

    I’m currently reading Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. I mostly read while I’m waiting for the bus to work and on the bus to the office. Earlier this week, I finished a chapter just one stop away from work. I didn’t want to stop mid-chapter, so I flipped to the end and read the “About the Author” page. I learned that Delia Owens earned a Bachelor of Science in zoology from the University of Georgia (my alma mater!). Yep, you read that right, zoology! Not only that but Where the Crawdads Sing is her very first novel. Since its release in 2018, this book has sold over 12 million copies and will soon be a major motion picture this summer.
    I’ve thought a lot about what it must’ve been like for Delia Owens to write her first novel. Prior to Where the Crawdads Sing, she was known for her non-fiction work published in a plethora of wildlife journals. What did her colleagues think when she told them she was writing a novel? Did they laugh? Did they say, “Are you sure about this?” Did they scoff about her boldness behind her back? Clearly, I was not in the room and can’t speak to their reaction. However, I wonder what the world would be like if we consistently encouraged one another instead of planting doubt in the goals of others. 

    I want to live in a world where instead of criticizing artists, musicians, and authors for following their dreams, we emboldened them with confidence. We told them, “Oh, you’d be fantastic at that!” or “Well, you’ve definitely got the talent for it.” I want to live in a world where instead of immediately asking questions that shoot down ideas, we celebrated the idea and developed the idea further. I want to live in a world where we applaud those for really trying to create a life they want to live.

    I wonder how many Delia Owens, Taylor Swifts, or Picassos we’ve missed out on because someone told them they wouldn’t make it or they would only embarrass themselves. How many graduates chose to go into a job they hated because they were too embarrassed to follow their dreams or reveal their true passions? How many graduates chose not to go to New York, Nashville, Los Angeles, or even Paris because they were worried about what others would think? How many graduates didn’t pursue the degree they wanted because they were scared to stray from the safe path?

    Yesterday, I watched Taylor Swift obtain her honorary doctorate from New York University and address the graduating class of 2022. In her speech, she advised graduates to “learn to live alongside the cringe.” She challenged them to not be afraid of what other people think when they follow their dreams, citing that cringe was inevitable. I think that the world has decided that trying too hard, being too much, or acting too extra is cringe-worthy, but I think trying hard and going the extra mile is what makes average people extraordinary. In Taylor Swift’s speech, she said “Never be ashamed of trying. Effortlessness is a myth. The people who wanted it the least were the ones I wanted to date and be friends with in high school. The people who want it most are the people I now hire to work for my company.” 

    As many graduates (and anyone else; there is no age restriction on dreaming) begin to follow their path and dream of the impossible things they can do, I challenge you and myself to encourage them, rather than asking what will pay the bills. If their dreams are too much for you, in the words of Elyse Myers, go find less. To those working towards your dreams, never be afraid of going the extra mile. Send that thank you note. Show up early. Dress your best. Do the extra research. Reveal to those around you how much you want it. Someone will notice, and that’s what will bring you closer to those dreams you are so desperately running towards.