Dare to Dream

Amelie was nine, and while not privileged she did have all the basic necessities that, along with a loving family, made her childhood ideal. One day after school Amelie becomes lost and finds herself in a rundown neighborhood. She only wants to get out of there but is held up when she encounters a boy, just a couple years younger than herself, crying on a sidewalk before a partially demolished house. "Why are you crying?" She asks him, with genuine concern. He tells her his mother won't let him go to school because he has no clothes or shoes. Amelie is determined to help this less fortunate one. So the next day brings him a bag of old clothes, and learns an early lesson about those in need - and caring. Amelie's own family came into crisis as her grandparents experienced health problems, causing their standard of living to suffer. But her grandfather's saying, "You make the best of what you have," were words to live by. Amelie took care of her grandparents over the intervening years as their health continued to decline and bore the responsibilities and chores of an adult, though still only a child. Juggling both her schoolwork and running grandfather's small store while tending them was a great deal of work. There were times she thought of quitting school---but she knew her education would be the cornerstone of all she could hope to achieve when she got older. Despite graduating with top grades, attending college would require assistance as she hadn't the money. One day a letter came from Harvard offering her a place and a scholarship to the prestigious university. Dreams really did come true, yet still required hard work. Of course, the life of a university student often begins with difficulties, and such only grow from there. Added to which were the need to get a part-time job to earn money, as well as homesickness which nearly caused her to ditch it all and go back home. But her family held her steadfast. It was in the midst of this crisis that she met two other students who were alone for a particularly bleak holidays and they formed a quick bond that supported one another. And one of these friends would eventually become her boyfriend, later her husband. With the support of family and friends, and years of being responsible before she was even an adult, Amelie was able to navigate the rocks of those years: avoiding partying, moving out on her own, attaining a coveted internship, and even dealing with an abusive professor. Through it all, Amelie was to became class valedictorian. As a special surprise, her friends collected enough money to bring her family a long distance to attend her graduation. The commencement speech she delivered was a heartfelt triumph, and after landing a great job in a Law Firm she married and had their first child a year later. True to her earlier calling, she worked for those in need, and in that role became an advocate for the Human Rights of people who were suffering.