The other day, an acquaintance asked me what I was planning to do with my degree. I dread this question most of the time, because I know what's coming next.

"I want to be an author," I say exuberantly. I am typically responded to with a little smirk and chuckle. The other person's eyes usually seem to say, "you're a silly little girl with silly little dreams." It used to crush me a little more every time this happened. From now on, though, I refuse to let these interactions deter me.

I know too many people who wake up dreading their jobs. It makes a negative impact on nearly every aspect of their lives. Why do they put themselves through it? Why don't they do what they love? For some, it's a matter of necessity. If one has a dire need to provide instantly, there isn't much choice in whether or not they need a dependable job. There are people who aren't in as fortunate a position as I am. Then again, there's another group of adults who don't follow their hearts. This reasoning is found through a myriad of excuses.

There are a million excuses to avoid following your dreams. You could say it doesn't pay enough, it's a dying field, or it's too hard to chase a position down. I've tried using them all. These aren't good enough reasons, though.

It's bad enough to have others shoot down your dreams, but telling yourself you can't achieve them is twice as bad.

No matter the words you spew out in an attack on your "unrealistic" goals, the feeling will never go away. The ache to do what you love, to grow, and to create will stick with you forever. Once you have a true passion for something - whether it be music, writing, culinary arts, business, or science - it becomes a part of you. Nothing else will satisfy your desire for expression and success.

I crave writing. The ability to make intricate characters and stories has been the love of my life since I was a little girl playing with dolls. It has never faded or let me down. I know it's what I'm meant for, and giving it up just because the path will be rocky would extinguish the light inside of me. For the same reason, I know that a career of writing and reading will never bore me, cease to challenge me, or become something I dread waking up to. That's all I can ask for.

People may think it would be too inconvenient for a short amount of time to gain fulfillment for a lifetime. How does that make sense? Life is too short to wake up hating the place you spend half of your time. I might struggle along the way and I might not make big bucks from my art, but I'll have a life of fulfillment, joy, and satisfaction. I'm starting to realize that I'd rather run towards that goal, and be knocked over many times, than stroll unchallenged through a boring, meaningless path.

I don't care if my dreams are unrealistic. I care enough about them and about myself to make them into a reality. I hope you can say the same.