The importance of pursuing our dreams

In the book DreamGiver by Bruce Wilkinson, a story is told of a character by the name of Anybody. Anybody has a dream but struggles to break free of his comfort zone and actualize it.

One day he gathered the courage and started apprising others of his dream but was unsurprisingly greeted with ridicule.

They reminded him of his so called limitations and with their words condemned him to the realms of mediocrity.

Our world was and is still being morphed by those individuals who chose to challenge the status quo and actualize their dreams. The persons who ridiculed Anybody existed back then and are quite rampant today.

Where would we be if persons like Nelson Mandela, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Martin Luther King Jr. had succumbed to the detractors and chose not to pursue their purpose? One can only wonder.

It is those who have dreams, make a vision, set goals and allow their desire to drive them that truly live out their purpose. By their actions, others are inspired to take a similar leap of faith.

It was Isaac Newton’s dream to solve the mystery behind mathematical and scientific concepts.

He dedicated himself to his purpose of achieving the seemingly impossible and now others are benefitting.

It was Mahatma Gandhi’s dream to ensure India secured independence. His fight was uphill and despite the terrain and the enormous commitment it required, he achieved his lifelong goal.

One such person was distinguished in Looking forward to Africa’s future, an article published in The Cord. The article noted a man being more than present at a presentation with retired Senator Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire who delivered a keynote address in a visit to Wilfrid Laurier University.

The Ghanaian student was the last one to ask a question. He hesitantly asked the prominent international figure about his thoughts about the future of Africa. After pondering a bit, the senator declared the future of Africa had to be the Africans themselves.

At that moment, the values, principles and passions of one student fell perfectly in alignment.

He stood with confidence and uttered a statement which had such profound inspiration embedded that the massive audience was pulled to their feet. “Senator Dellaire, I am the future of Africa,” he said.

TK Azaglo was that Ghanaian student. He recognized his passion and believed strongly in a positive future of Africa. Hence, he started a club called Future of Africa, which has now evolved into a great organization.

His passion grew into action and his action birthed reward. He copped the Student Leadership in Internationalization Award in 2011 and right after became an international student recruiter for Laurier before becoming the global engagement coordinator.

He believed strongly in establishing caring relationships, but felt the urge to do more — the need to empower African children and people through health and education.

He resigned from his capacity on Dec. 5 of last year and left to pursue his dreams back in Ghana. All these dreamers made their dreams their journey and defined themselves by their course of action. These persons were aware of their detractors but knew that they would not be believed by what they say but by what they do.

Like TK, dreaming of a world where everyone gives wholeheartedly and expects nothing in return is idealistic but plausible.

His advice was, “If you have a passion and you believe you can do something, you can do it.” And all it takes is a dream.