Growing up we all dream of being something, or someone. If we are lucky, we are encouraged to dream big and receive words of encouragement to one day go after our dreams. I always dreamt of being the first Hispanic female president of the United States of America and changing the world to make it a better place. You can definitely say I have the kind of parents that always told me anything is possible as long as I work hard for it, and never give up.
I have to be honest with myself now; I don’t see myself becoming the first Hispanic female president-- though changing the world is still a part of my dreams. El Sol Market, in Patterson is where I am the assistant manager. That is not my dream job, but I like it. My co-workers are all fun to work with, the customers that go in are usually friendly and my favorite type of people are the kids that are not bratty.
A few days ago, I had an encounter with a customer that is a regular and I always talk to. He started telling me about the difficulties his son was having in school. The little boy—a second grader had just transferred in from a school in Mexico and is just learning English as a second language. I started telling him how the transition can be hard and how he should encourage him to not give up. I advised the father to look into a local charter school that has bilingual teachers and to look into programs for children that are learning English as a second language like his son.
The child’s father started telling me how he has began learning slowly and progress has been made. What angered me and got me so upset however was what he told me and the little boy. I don’t remember the exact words he used, but I got so upset.
Being the little talker that I am, I started telling the little boy how so important school is and how he can be anything he wanted to be. Instead of the dad supporting what I had just told his son he instead told him to at least graduate from high school, and get an okay job to survive. Parents, is that really what you want to teach your children? To conform?
Society does not want mediocre doctors, cops, lawyers or teachers. Parents, can you please not teach our future career men and women to be quitters at life goals or dreams. Children do not ever say “When I grow up I just want to make by with a high school diploma.” No, children usually say “When I grow up I want to be an astronaut, a reporter, a veterinarian…”
Those that get far in life, reach their goals and never stop dreaming, or working hard towards those ideals because quitters never win. Let’s not teach our children to quit but rather teach values of hard work and fuel those dreams. When I grow up, I not only want to be a great reporter, but a great parent who will always fuel up my child’s dream and imagination to be whatever he may want to be.
A Dreamer’s Frustration
Published: Friday, March 5, 2010
Updated: Friday, March 5, 2010
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