Follow That Dream
by Irene Chua
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This chapter is a letter from a mother, Irene Chua, to her daughter Ming, encouraging her to follow her dream while being realistic about its cost. Great people become great by pursuing a dream with effort and sacrifice, reaching world-class standard takes at least ten years of intense, single-minded work. A dream begins with passion, grows into conviction, and demands that one count the cost in years, money and sacrifice before plunging in. Behind every winner stands a support network. The mother notes that for many, dreams remain mere wishful thinking, sometimes traded for security or changed by circumstances. She warns Ming to weigh the obstacles, adding that life itself may change one's dreams, as her own dream shifted over ten years to publishing this very book, and wishes at least one of Ming's dreams comes true.
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What makes greatness
The mother urges Ming to follow her dream. Great men and women, she says, become great because they pursue a dream until it comes true; greatness is set apart by how much effort and sacrifice people invest. To reach world-class standard in any field, one must pursue it singularly and intensively for at least ten years.
From passion to commitment
A dream starts with passion for an interest, then grows into the conviction that it must be realised. One must count the cost in years of effort, financial investment and sacrifice, and only then, if it is still burning in the blood, plunge in. The road is often uphill, sustained by the knowledge that one is doing what one loves and the prospect of success. Behind every award-winner, she notes, stands a whole support network.
Dreams, reality and change
The mother observes that for many people dreams remain mere wishful thinking, sometimes traded for security or changed by circumstances such as war or family duties. She does not wish to put a 'wet blanket' on Ming's dreams but asks her to consider the obstacles. From her own experience, life itself may change a person's dreams, her own dream shifted over ten years to publishing this book, and these new hopes are no less worthy. She wishes at least one of Ming's dreams comes true.