When I was young, I always knew I wanted to be a writer. I even wrote a very short book on the back of tiny colored notebook paper I ripped out of other used pages and to this day, I still keep that impressive fifty-six paged "novel" right inside my desk. It's a reminder of how far I've come with not only my writing, but also my dream of one day being able to write novels for a living. It's a dream that I never thought was impossible despite other people telling me otherwise. I used to hate telling people my dream job and what I was majoring in college because I couldn't stand their disapproving faces. It made me feel like I wasn't good enough.

But if there's one thing I've come to realize in life it's that you can't please everyone. It's always better to just do what you want and not listen to the background noises of other people's negative opinions. Because here's the thing: you and only you are in control of your life and no one, no one can tell you differently. So to all the little girls who have what I call a "ridiculous" dream and have been told countless times to give it up, I hope this poem will show you that those dreams can come true.

Dear Girl, Yes You Can

She looks at you, doe-eyed

waiting to hear your response.

She just got through telling you

she wants to be an astronaut,

because at five years old,

you taught her to dream and it will happen.

So you rest your hands on her shoudlers

and tell her how you can't wait to buy her

a spaceship and a smile forms

showing her missing front teeth

as she skips off to study the planets and stars.

And she makes her spacesuit from rolls of shiny foil

and a fishbowl.

And you just sit there and watch

as she looks through her telescope

to the great beyond.

To a galaxy far, far away

that you said was possible to go.

And when she gets older,

those words her mother told her

will be replaced with resounding

"You can't do that,"

"Get a real job,"

"Stop wasting your time,"

and

"You should just settle down instead"

from disapproving people,

until it almost breaks her in half.

When her dreams will turn into distant memories,

once cherished hopes that she could've reached

with her small hands.

Where her days will be filled with a nine to five job

she chose to be practical, a safe route.

As her husband comes home

and he tells her about his day of his job that he loves,

so much, his eyes form stars

that light up every time he speaks.

It's too bad hers have turned to dust.

And she listens, dresses her face up with a thin smile,

with her back turned against him.

But then she sees the shiny foil as she wraps up the leftovers

and stares into the fishbowl on the side table

and that's when she's reminded of the little girl

who once told her mother

her plans of being an astronaut.

And this time, for the first time,

she flashes a real smile, with all of her teeth.

So she stays up all night

building a silver rocketship

and counting every star in the sky.

She remembered who she was

after losing her for some time.

This time, she won't let that little girl down.

And when they tell you you can't do it,

make sure you say to them, watch me.

You are the creator of your future.

Don't ever let anyone

tamper with your story.

Dear girl, reach for the stars

and keeping flying high.