The world is a big place. And in such a big world, is it not easy to feel insignificant? So many people give up on their dreams for that very reason, but there was one year when I learned that giving up is why so little people succeed.

My freshman year of high school, I wanted to be a part of an activity. Having some experience with it in middle school, I tried out for the color guard. And with practice and just a tiny amount of luck, I made it in.

Like with almost everything, I took a while to open up to everyone else. I felt out of place at times, small and inexperienced in comparison to the upperclassmen. They were boisterous, more confident, and they always looked like they knew exactly what they were doing. I, on the other hand, tended to just go along with what I was told, hoping that I wouldn’t embarrass myself. It was difficult in the beginning, but I kept trying. I would constantly get bruises, and my tosses were weak and lacking grace, but once competition time rolled around, I felt pretty optimistic about my abilities.

Eventually, a lot of the older girls encouraged me to start talking to them. Once I did, I found that I really enjoyed spending time with the team. Which was a good thing, considering that outside of school, almost all my free time was dedicated to the band. They gave me advice, helping me to transition from the shy middle-schooler to the slightly less shy but determined freshman that I came to be. I was close to some of the girls in my grade as well, and together, I felt like we could do anything.

There was one person in particular who pushed me to do my best. She was the guard instructor. Not only did she make sure we looked good on the field, but she always ensured that we were doing great as a team. We often had 'pow-wows,' talking about our feelings and hopes and telling stories in the gym or on the broken down band bus.

Having experience from the military, she had a seemingly endless supply of anecdotes. She would tell us about her life, her experiences, and she was never afraid to answer any question we threw at her.

I remember one time during a conversation, she said something that really inspired me. “Yes, the world is big. But someone out there has to live their dreams. Someone has to keep people on their toes. Someone has to be the inspiration for everyone else to see. So why not you?”

And why not me? Or why not you, or anyone else out there that dares to refrain from setting limits on their dreams? It's true, someone out there has to make the difference. And that person could be anyone. Whether it's perfecting a routine for a high school marching band show, or performing on a show in front of thousands of people, somebody out there is living the life they've always dreamed of.

Dreams are attainable, after all, if you take them one step at a time.