We were seatmates in the latter period of my secondary school days. I remember that as we discussed in class that day about our university plans, I told her I would be the President of the Students’ Union of the University of Ibadan.
I was 16 years old at the time, but I used to read about the exploits of student unionists such as Big Sam and others anytime I perused my dad’s newspapers during the holidays. That was my dream—I saw myself addressing huge crowds on the university campus.
We left secondary school, and my effort to gain admission into the University of Ibadan (UI) failed. I actually got an offer to study geography at UI, but I declined as I wanted to study engineering.
I had to wait for a year while going through extramural classes and sitting for another exam. Eventually, I got admitted to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to study mechanical engineering.
Though I missed UI, my dream was still intact. Dreams don’t have expiry dates, so I carried my dream over. Dreams, just like goals, are made of several building blocks—a little here and a little there.
Every dream is valid, no matter how far-fetched it seems. Find out how to make yours a reality. Share on XSo in 100 Level, I became the General Secretary of my Hall. In 200 Level, I became the Deputy Speaker. In 300 Level, I threw my hat in the ring and contested for the presidency.
Finally, I was about to live the dream I carried around since my secondary school. I didn’t allow the change in environment to affect the validity of my dream.
It was a hotly contested race, but I failed. I came a close second out of four candidates. I actually lost to the winner by 52 votes. That made it a very difficult loss for me to process.
I had actually given up and decided to concentrate on my studies. At least I tried. But then I got a letter from my former seatmate in secondary school. It was a letter that would rekindle my hope and inspire me all over again.
She attended another university in the South West but heard that I contested for the presidency and lost.
In that letter, she reminded me of the discussion we had that afternoon in class and encouraged me to try again. As I read her letter, I felt tears stream down my face as I made up my mind to try again.
In 400 Level, I made another attempt, and this time, I won. It was a landslide.
Don’t let a setback define you—let it refine your dream. Share on XDo you have a dream? Don’t give up on it even when circumstances or the environment seem to negate the fulfillment of that dream. Your dreams are valid irrespective of your geography.
You may need to restrategize or build slowly, but keep moving in the direction of your dream. It may take time and a lot of tears, sweat, and blood, but the ultimate satisfaction that living your dream will give you is unlike any other. Dreams are free, so dream freely.
Don’t dream small dreams. Life is too short to dream small dreams. Dream big. Be audacious. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and work. Your dream is concretized by the efforts you put in. But the foundation is that dream. Revive that dream.
Don’t let it die. Good things happen to those who dream big.