Dreaming Big

By Kerstin

Let me preface this by stating I am lucky to have grown up in a very loving and supportive environment. My family, specifically my mom, has told me from day one I can do and be anything I want. As I’ve grown, my wants and dreams have changed. When I was nine, I wanted to be an astronaut because I thought astronaut ice cream tasted amazing. When I was eleven, I wanted to be a baker and own my own cupcake shop. As big as those dreams seemed, I knew my mom would support me in my endeavors.

I didn’t realize how lucky I was to uncover the power of possibility at a young age, specifically in connection to my dream of owning my own bakery. I would imagine what type of recipes I would create, how my store would look, and where it would be located. As I matured, I began to realize that this goal may change over time and be unrealistic. My mom did not let me give up on this dream. She suggested I intern at local bakeries to see if it was something I truly wanted to pursue. She indulged my dream and tried to get me on the road to making that possibility a reality.

Now my dreams have changed. I am no longer crazy obsessed with cupcakes and wanting to own my own bakery. Perhaps it’s something I will do in retirement. I’ve dug around in different ideas and have my mind set on finding a career in immigration law or becoming a politician for my state. Additionally, I still have what some would call a “little kid dream” of becoming President of the United States. Yet, I won’t dismiss this dream or shove it to the side because it's unobtainable. I will still chase it.

What I know and won’t budge on is that whatever I do in my future, I want to help people through changing laws, advocating, and fighting for them in court. Helping echo and grow someone’s voice is important to me.

I will forever cherish the lesson my mom taught me, “with hard work and research your possibilities can become reality.”