I am an absolute, head-in-the-clouds dreamer. If I am not in class or hanging out with friends, I am almost always dreaming. I dream about the future. I dream about everything that I hope to accomplish. I have a lot of thoughts on the subject, so please listen up.

First off, do not be afraid to put yourself out there. It is easy to think that your dreams are too difficult to accomplish, thus not making it worth the effort to fulfill them. However, I think one of the key pieces to being a dreamer is to take risks. What is the fun in a life that you always play it safe? What is the point of just going by without big aspirations that you desire to accomplish? I would much rather have big dreams, have some setbacks and see what is next than to never try at all. Put yourself out there. Get involved in things that will help you get to the next step. Keep climbing and working until you get there.

Next, you have to be okay with a few setbacks along the way. You can have big dreams and plans, but they most likely not pan out exactly how you thought of in your head. Learn to accept the setbacks, adjust as needed and keep going. Do not let unexpected events or complications keep you from reaching for your next goal. Life never goes as planned so naturally a part of dreaming is accepting the fact that those will not go as planned either. However, as long as you are aware of the fact that the dreams you envision will not be exactly as you imagined, it is okay to start planning and shooting for something.

Put yourself in uncomfortable positions. Why? It is when you are outside of your comfort zone that you will learn the most about yourself. I go to a huge university; coming from a small, private school, I had no idea what to expect and was slightly nervous about it. However, being at a large school has made me more confident in who I am and an independent person. I know what I am capable of, I know what I want to accomplish, and I have the resources and connections necessary to help me along the way.

Going into the college application process, I applied to the business schools at every school. I got into the business program at every school except the one that I currently go to. It is because of this that I have been able to explore all possible career options and found a new love of writing. Whether or not I major in business or journalism, I would not have found this new piece of myself that I know will influence the rest of my career and aspirations. if I had not gone outside of my comfort zone of my small school or my safety net of the business programs, I would've never found my new passion of writing.

Allow yourself to dream big. Growing up, I idolized the issues of Vogue on the magazine racks of Target. I would have never thought that my aspirations would actually lead me to pursue the fashion and editorial industry. However, I dream of getting there, and you better believe that I am going to try. I have no idea if I will get there. I have no idea if I will change my mind. I have no idea which setbacks might try to stop me.

However, I am determined. I know where I want to go with my life. I know what I am passionate about. I know what I am capable of. So in the long run, yes, maybe my big dreams sound crazy. However, I have the willpower and determination to get there, so I do not find them to be so crazy. I am not going to waste my time settling for what I think I could maybe accomplish; I refuse to take the easy way out. Instead, I will dream bigger and more often until I get there.

I hate the idea of settling for less than extraordinary. This life is one that we are so lucky to have, so why not make the most of it? It will not be easy, but that is why it is a dream. However, with the drive to get there, I truly believe we are capable of anything. Keep dreaming, keep putting yourself out there and keep pursuing your passions. This is your one life so please really, truly live it.