Dreams Do Come True

By Donna Miller

There's a point in our lives when we convert dreams to goals. This is a powerful step. It's when you take your dreams, and commit to them. It's where you chase something that's really, really important for you.

In June, I graduated from Brock University with a Bachelor of Education, fulfilling a decades old dream. Back in my teen years my priorities shifted and I graduated with a Grade 12 diploma instead of pursuing a degree.

In my twenties I chased the dream again, and after completing the prerequisite Grade 13 courses I enrolled at McMaster University as a part-time student. I earned four credits before the birth of my first son, Jeremy. At the time I felt that I was too busy to continue taking courses, and happily put my dream on hold. Priorities changed again.

The dream began to percolate as my sons approached university age, and I started to imagine going back to school again. In 1999, while both of my sons were attending university, I restarted my educational journey.

Overcoming resistance

The hardest part of chasing a dream is overcoming resistance. When I dropped out in the 70's, it seemed like the proper thing to do. It was more of a sign of the times. My children were my priority, and continuing with my degree did not even occur to me. I may have put my dream on hold, but it didn't subside. I was compelled to go after it.

When I returned to university in 1999, I took courses that seemed interesting. They helped build up my self-esteem and prepared me for the discipline of attending school. I put my toes in the water, and then in 2001 I jumped into the deep end by enrolling in a degree in Fine Arts at York University, Atkinson College. I wanted a challenge that would be so foreign to me that I could not worry about my obsession for high marks and could just immerse myself in the experience. It was an amazing opportunity, and pushed me to new levels of creativity and problem solving that I didn't know were possible.

Unfortunately after receiving 4.5 credits, Atkinson discontinued their Fine Arts program and I dropped out for a year. Resistance took over, and I did not have the confidence to take a Fine Arts program with another institution.

Again, the dream had taken on a life of its own, and I was compelled to continue on with it. I then discovered the Adult Education teaching program at Brock University, and it immediately interested me. When I was young, from the age of 5 or maybe 6, I dreamed of being a teacher. The program just felt right. I started enthusiastically taking the required courses. The program was structured so that you took a block of 5 courses back-to-back with the same group of people. This was challenging for me. It meant attending classes all day Saturday, and it was an intense curriculum with lots of homework. Keep in mind, on top of my courses I still maintained my fulltime position at LEAPJob.

I loved the program, but by the last course something in me was fighting, resisting and sabotaging my efforts from completing the program. Every fiber in me wanted to give up. Every assignment turned into an emotional marathon. Did my abilities get in the way? No. But the baggage I had acquired somewhere in my past sure made it hard to push to the end. But I persevered. I was not going to give up.

There's nothing like fulfilling a dream

Am I proud of myself? You bet!

We must have a dream, a goal and a passion to succeed. I graduated on June 9th from Brock University with a B.Ed. in Adult Education. It was a long journey, but the importance of my hard work and achievement hit home as I sat in the convocation hall basking in the praise, pomp and ceremony, and of course the walk across the stage with my newly adorned hood.

Did showing up for my graduation ceremony matter? For me, yes. The ceremony and the rituals of the day brought home what I had achieved. My efforts, my sacrifices and my achievements along with the support and sacrifice of several key people in my life all resonated in the ceremony. I knew the journey was worth the effort.

To those of you who have walked this walk as adult students, congratulations! To those of you who are thinking about it, just do it. It's truly worth the effort.

No matter what your dream is, it's worth chasing. It does require effort and sacrifice. The path won't be straight and you will fight resistance along the way. But once you get to the final destination, there's nothing else like it. Anything is possible.

Donna Miller is a Partner with Miller & Associates. She oversees the operations of LEAPJob and Sticky Branding. You can reach Donna at 905.281.3090, ext. 23 or Donna.Miller@LEAPJob.com.

LEAPJob: For more information LEAPJob's sales and marketing recruiting services visit http://www.LEAPJob.com.

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