Why is having a dream a good thing, but being a dreamer, bad?

"It is interesting that we call something good a “dream,” but being called a “dreamer” is somewhat of a putdown." – Vera Nazarian

There is a reason we tell kids that they will grow up to be president, even if we don't think that they will. We're not lying to them, we're encouraging them because without dreams of presidency, of stardom, of landing on the moon, where would they be? They would have no hope for the future or any motivation to go to school and learn. But once they reach a certain age, we tell them that those same dreams are childish and unattainable. At what age does following your dreams stop being a motivator and start being naive? Why does society stop encouraging these dreams and start trying to force normalcy? We're expected to stop chasing our dreams and settle for a more "appropriate" goal, such as a well paying job, marriage and a family.

While there is nothing wrong with any of those things, I don't think that we should give up on other dreams just because they are a little risky. Kids who dream of being singers, athletes, actors and dancers are told that with enough practice, they will be able to achieve these dreams, but once they grow up, they are told that those same dreams will make nice hobbies. They are told to focus on academics and getting into a good college, and to find a nice job that will pay the bills. Their dreams get pushed to the back burners, or forgotten about entirely, and if you try to push against those boxes that society has put us in, you get judged. You get told that you need to grow up, move on, let go. But if everyone just gave up, we would never have any authors, singers, dancers, artists or anything other than people who work nice jobs with a respectable retirement fund.

Just imagine that for a second; a world in which we don't have music, art, or Harry Potter. That's not the type of world that I want to live in. I want to live in the world where anyone can be the next Demi Lovato, the next J.K. Rowling, the next Van Gogh, the next Barack Obama. Without dreamers, we wouldn't have any of the things we rely on today, no cars, phones or computers. We would be scared of falling off of the side of the earth.

I'm not saying that the only "good" dreams are dreams of fame and fortune, but it seems to me that those are the only dreams that get shot down. When kids say that they dream of going to college, most parents aren't going to tell them that maybe they should try singing first. No, they're going to encourage the safe dream, and stop the other one in its tracks. There are countless songs, movies and stories written about following your dreams, and never giving up and I think that's amazing. But I think that it would be more amazing if we could actually follow through with encouraging those dreams.

Don't let a kid think that they have a chance to achieve their dreams, and then pull the rug out from underneath them. What is the worst that could happen by allowing kids to think that they have a chance to change the world? Sure, they might get disappointed, but it is better than living a life wondering what could have been.