Earlier this week I was talking about how to live your dreams every day. Today I’d like to share a few words from two women doing just that.
What these stories highlight to me that our dreams are always different – one person’s ordinary will be another’s extraordinary and vice versa. Despite those differences, our dreams do often include one common characteristic – making a meaningful contribution through some kind of purposeful work, whether that’s in business, in the home, or in the community.
Heather’s Story
Heather Rothbauer-Wanish is the Business/Accounting Coordinator at Globe University-Eau Claire and also owns her own freelance writing and communication business, Feather Communications.
Growing up as an only child with two working parents, I always knew that I was going to college. My father worked a construction job and my mother worked in a factory; neither of them had gone on to school. Their dream was for me to obtain a college degree and get a job – not just any job – but a job that I enjoyed.
Now, I have an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree and I have started working on a Ph.D. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my parents’ dream had become my dream. I am the first person to graduate from college in my family and now have an instructor position at a local university.
My first day of teaching in July 2008 was filled with apprehension. I stepped in the classroom and tried to steady myself. After the class was done, there was an absolute feeling of peace, as I knew I had found my calling in life. My dream had been fulfilled; I was now teaching at a college, the very place my parents had always wanted me to attend.
From that day forward, I knew that I was making a difference in each of my students’ lives. I feel so fortunate to go to work each day and love what I do. For a girl living in the country, attending an elementary/high school in a town with a population of 1000 people and wondering what the world had in store for me, my dreams have come true.
At a recent town gathering in that same small town, I saw my high school math instructor. He gave me a hug and told me how proud he was that someone from our town had become so successful.
Follow your dreams. Whether you are from a small town, city or suburb, keep dreaming. As my parents also taught me, there are no substitutes for hard work and perseverance. Realize that your dream achievement can have far-reaching effects for you, your family and beyond. Ironically, I now teach in a building that my father built as a construction worker—our dreams have truly come full circle.
Karen’s Story
Karen’s a police officer, a wife and a mum to two sons aged 5 and 2. Hear Karen tell her story as part of our Inspiring Savvy Women video series.
I’d wanted to be a police officer since as long as I can remember… when I had children I thought, “I still want to be a police officer, but I don’t know if that will happen”. And it did, and it’s just the most incredible feeling. There’s no perfect time for anything, and I think that if you don’t try it, you’re going to regret it, and I wasn’t going to regret not trying to be a mum, and not trying to be a police officer.
We’d love to hear how you’re living your dreams… share your story in the comments below.
Related posts:
- Real Women Living Savvy: Chasing my dreams in 2012
- Real women living savvy: What are you willing to do, to achieve your dream?
- Real women living savvy: Juliette Wright, Professional ‘Giver’
- Real Women Living Savvy: On Being A Mother & A Rock Chick
- Real women living savvy: Building an independent life with Paula
