Juma was a class teacher in a local School. This was not the career he had dreamt of since childhood. He had a consuming dream of becoming a writer or a journalist. During his childhood, his thoughts always centered on writing and writing compelling articles and books. If you happened to catch Juma unawares, you could find him verbalising how to become a journalist.
Juma is 45 years old now. He lost his dream on the way and ended up becoming a primary school teacher. Juma never entertains the discussion of his childhood dream. He also hates children who express their dreams openly. He thinks they are unrealistic. Juma believes that dreams never comes true, dreaming is a waste of time and dreamers are unrealistic people.
Juma’s beliefs are self affirming. His seat-mate and close friend in high school dreamt of becoming a TV presenter which never came to pass. He ended up becoming a technician in a local technical college. His elder brother wanted to become a Doctor. He ended up as a Librarian. Juma’s ex-girlfriend wanted to become a surgeon, among all his friends, she is the only one who ended closer to her dream, being a nurse.
To Juma, the list of people who dreamt but never actualised their dreams is endless. Why dream if it never comes true? Juma confirms his self-limiting prophesy by looking at the people around him.
Dreams are the seedlings of reality
One Monday morning, following a weekend of soul searching, Juma came to class and asked the students to write down their dreams in a piece of paper.
He waited until every student wrote their dreams. As was usual with Juma, he went round the class checking what they had written. He started on the left corner of the front row. That corner used to sit a boy called Nick in a wheel chair. Next to him was a girl called Rose. Nick and Rose were close friends by virtue of sitting next to each other. Rose used to help Nick with many things including pushing his wheel chair to and from break.
Juma picked the paper with Nick’s dream. It was written,’ I would like to become a Popstar’. Juma looked at Nick, looked back at the paper, looked back at Nick and back to the paper for the second time. He shook his head disapprovingly, folded Nick’s piece of paper and dumped it in dustbin. Nick was lost of the words. But Juma was the teacher, so Nick was powerless.
Do Not Allow Anybody to Steal Your Dream
Juma came to Rose and read her dream which was, ‘I would like to become a Computer Scientist’. Juma got irritated. He knew pretty well Rose came from a very poor background. This meant she had no chance to touch a computer until University. Ideally, she can never achieve this. As he did with Nick’s paper, Juma dumped Rose’s paper in the bin.
No person has the right to pour cold water on your dreams.
Rose was a unique character. She was proud of herself. She believed in herself. Although she came from a poor background, she never allowed anybody to dictate her life. She became furious with Juma. She jumped out of her desk crying and went straight to the bin. She picked her paper and Nick’s while crying uncontrollably while yelling
‘I will dream until my dream comes true’.
Juma became compassionate with her. He stopped checking what the other students had written. He concentrated on comforting Rose. By the time he managed to comfort Rose, time for his lesson was up and he had to leave.
After high school, Nick and Rose joined the same University. Rose was admitted to do Chemistry while Nick was to do Physics. This meant they shared many classes. Nick still harboured the dream of a Popstar but Rose was less optimistic now, she was getting complacent. She was trying to convince herself that a degree in chemistry would guarantee her a good job, good money and eventually she can live off it.
As usual with University Students, Nick and Rose went out for drinks now and then. They could not do it often because Nick had to use a wheel chair.
Dreams are like stars, you may never touch them, but if you follow them, they will lead you to your destiny
One night, after Nick had taken a few drinks, he got tipsy and started humming a tune. Surprising, the bar had a Karaoke equipment which were offered to him. When he started singing, the patrons who were talking, kept quiet. Those who were holding glasses of beer, placed them back on the table. Those who were smooching each other, stopped and listened to Nick. Virtually everybody looked and listened to Nick. They were mesmerized by his voice and singing ability.
After he finished singing,everyone gave him a standing ovation. Unaware of his new celebrity status, Nick continued to drink. Many urged him to sing another song, but Nick would never budge.
A physiotherapist in the crowd, approached Nick and enquired why he used a wheel chair. While half drunk, Nick, narrated how he was born unable to walk and he has since used a wheel chair. The specialist promised to take his case further and see if he could help. They exchanged contacts and they parted.
When Nick and Rose were leaving, the owner of the bar called them aside. He asked Nick to come and sing every week from Thursday evening. He promised to pay him hourly. Nick was delighted for the development. His dream as a singer was becoming half-realised.
New Careers
Nick continued to sing in the bar every weekend for the rest of the Semester. During his last night of that Semester, son of the bar owner approached him for a contract to record a single. It happened that, the son of the bar owner had just jetted into the country from conducting gigs abroad. Nick was more than willing.
Nick’s single topped the charts. It was a new fame, new career while still being a student. The attention Nick was receiving in the University was daunting and overwhelming. All the girls wanted him. Females lecturers were making overtures.
Armed with money accrued from sales of the single, Nick was advised by his Physiotherapist friend to seek specialised treatment abroad. It took just six months for Nick to walk on his own feet without using a wheel chair, crutches or being aided.
On the other side, Rose had 6 units in total to study for. One of them was a computer science unit. Whenever they went for the practicals in the unit of computers science, she finished her assignment ahead of her classmates. She could solve even the most complicated programming problems. Her lecturer was fascinated with her acumen for computers. He suggested that she should apply abroad for a scholarship to do computers. She obliged. This was her childhood dream. To secure the scholarship she had to sit for an entry exams. To her amazement; she emerged the best among all the applicants. The scholarship was fully paid inclusive of two return flights.
Nicks’ Wedding
Nick decided it was time to get serious in life. He wanted to get married and settle down. All along, a girl of a well known teacher had been following Nick. They had become friends, their friendship had blossomed into lovers. Nick was convinced she was the right one to marry.
Nick’s fiancee’s father’s name was Bill, a popular teacher. Nick never bothered to enquire further. He loved the girl, so the details of the father were less important at this point. Their courtship was short and spontaneous. They decided to get married within 2 months of engagement. All this long, Nick had never met his fiancee’s father due to their busy and crowded schedules. But he was assured they had his blessing to tie the knot.
Nick felt that he had to speed up his wedding for Rose to witnesses it before flying out. The day of the wedding was set, Rose was the master of the ceremony.
Moment of epiphany
This was a wedding of two very popular people, a pop star and a daughter of respected teacher. The media was very interested to cover it.
During the wedding ceremony, Rose stood to introduce the parents of the Bride. After looking at Bill he recognised him. He remembered he was his class teacher who rebuffed her dream and Nick’s. In school he was called William Juma, but in the society he is called Bill, which is short for William. Very few know him as William Juma. Instead of mentioning his name as Bill or Juma, Rose went ahead to say ‘ I will Dream until my dream comes true’. Bill looked at Rose and remembered those words which Rose had uttered 14 years ago amidst sobs. He fainted and collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital.
Media followed Bill to the hospital demanding to know what had happened. Bill could not divulge anything, he only told the media paparazzis that ‘Dream until your dream comes True’
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Mr Arimi,i read that article about dreams more than once today.I too read several other articles;10 simple and quick ways to spark motivation when feeling down,microwave heating of food safe or unsafe and things that are guaranteed after voting yes or no.
I would really appreciate if the latter three articles were sent directly to my mail together with change your T volume 2 which you had earlier promised.This would allow me read them again and again anytime i wish.
They were a great read!
Thanks Kefa. I will email you the copy of those three articles. I have changed the subscription system so that subscribers can get full articles in their email. You may need to re-enter your email in subscription box to join the new mailing system.