I Dare to Dream

Dreams, in my experience, are very strong. They last forever, with a different shape, different visions in various stages of life. To me, they change. They fluctuate. But, the core essence lasts longer than we can ever imagine. They keep changing until you explore yourself, discover your potential and recognize your Self. And when you do, they would last forever like your shadow. Unwavering. Undenying. As a child, I loved dreaming. I still do. I rejoiced in my wonderland, met fairies, talked to gnomes and often wondered if it was possible to forever stay in your dream land, shutting your eyes tight to reality. And they would say it wasn’t possible. It didn’t exist. But somehow, I wasn’t ready to accept this fact.

As a grown up woman, I still dream, but in a different way with different aspirations. After finishing my study and starting a career, I have this unnerving feeling that I’m limiting myself to a mere job that does nothing more than catering my financial requirements, which ironically is just as urgent and true as the fact that I exist and that I need to rely on something to live on. At times, it frustrates me to death. But then, my desires to pursue my dreams, my visions keep me alive. To me, my dreams have greater meaning in my life. They are associated with my dignity and my existence as a human, a woman and an educated citizen. I can’t imagine my life without them. Education has further fostered my craving to follow dreams. It has given me an unique power and strength to persist, to speak and to face challenges. I have a vision to serve my community’s voiceless, marginalized and impoverished women. I believe that serving humanity far exceeds anything in this world. As a dreamer, I dream to achieve this aim. I envision a world where everyone’s equal, where women and men are equally respected and their human rights are ensured at all levels.

When I look back and compare my childhood dreams with that of my present ones, I find no difference. The wonderland where rights are equal and men and women are respected, the fairies who act for positive change and transformation and the impossible to achieve such an ambition still stand tall against my closed eyes as they used to when I was young. They still seem as impossible and dreamy as they were before. And, I still refuse to accept these as impossibilities. I still believe they are actionable and they are achievable. And I always found my education to be my unrelenting confidence, my strength and guide. This is uniquely empowering and gives you a sense of courage when you are on the brink of losing your hopes.

Obsessed as I am with this vision, I was looking for an opportunity to make this dream come true and participating in Voices of Our Future Programme is just a reflection of my unending passion for my dreams. This will tremendously help me nurture my capacities and confidence to follow my dreams. Through the mentorship of inspiring people and also through the networking with various women working in different parts of social change, I will definitely learn a great deal. It will also enlighten me to tackle the challenges, resolve problems and generate resilience. I will be in a better position to tell the local tales, which will be heard amid global listeners, giving the world a chance to know them, to see through and identify with them, ultimately beckoning a light towards fulfilling my dream vision.

Being a Voice among many of our Future Correspondent will endow me a chance to live my dream, my vision. So, I dare to speak and I dare to walk the roads less trodden. I am no longer silent observer of pain, unending oppressions, exploitations and abuses. I dare to dream, I dare to fight.