Dreams: a passion that was once the reason many wanted to grow up is now stored far back in their memory for reasons like being unrealistic or unstable.
Giving up on dreams isn’t just about forgetting them entirely, it can simply mean losing the passion to pursue them. Some careers are presented to seem a certain way when they aren’t, which can destroy the will to chase one’s dream when the reality of life sets in.
“I gave up on my passion of wanting to be an architect. I actually wanted to go to grad school and be in the architectural field, maybe even get my license one day,” Shobnom Bashar, a senior architecture major, said. “After I went through the course, that was the biggest reality check of my life.”
Maturing is another factor that hinders the pursuit of dreams. Being young and lacking experience in life can paint an image that may be deceiving.
“After growing up and realizing that the world is not all about dreams sometimes, I realized that it’s time-consuming and not the best option for me,” freshman civil engineering major Mand Mahmood said.
When asked what dream they gave up on, many students instantly thought of career-related dreams. Only one thought of a family-related dream.
Phuong Minh, a senior chemistry major, said she gave up on “the dream of actually having kids.” Minh came to realize that she would be missing out on experiences if she followed her dream of having kids — a dream she felt was influenced by family traditions and the people around her.
“I just kinda want to do what I want to do. I want to have a career for myself and travel. And I can’t really do that with the tradition or views of my parents or anyone else,” she said.
Junior biomedical engineering major Gufrhan Kadoom said that she gave up on her dream of becoming a flight attendant because “it’s for people whose family is financially stable.”
Kadoom’s dream’s door was shut after learning how time-consuming and financially draining it would be to become a flight attendant.
A variety of things can get in the way of pursuing one’s dreams, and sometimes it’s the intersection of multiple factors that makes it seem impossible to chase something you deeply enjoy.
Every once in a while, steal moments to revisit that dream because it’s not too late. Don’t let the dust settle over your dreams keep them buried.
The features desk can be reached at features@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
