When I was 5 years old, I wanted to be a ballerina. I used to tell everyone, "One day I'm going to be on a huge show." When I said this they used to say, "practice makes perfect. It'll happen." When I was 7 years old, I wanted to be an astronaut. I used to tell everyone, "I'm going to travel to the moon, and experience gravity." When I said this they smiled and said, "You could do it." When I was 11 years old, I wanted to be a lawyer. I used to tell everyone, "One day I'm going to go to the biggest court and defend people." When I said this they smiled and said, "Follow your dreams. No matter what" The other day someone asked me, "What do you want to study in college?" I suddenly had the urge to grab a needle and knit my lips together. For the past months this question has been the meaning of my life. Every person I stumble upon seems to have a broken record embracing their lungs. "I want to be a writer. I want to major in english/creative writing," I say. "Being a writer is not a job. That's a waste, why would you go to college and spend your money on that?" They replied to my anwser. I suddenly said, "I want to do something I actually enjoy. I don't want to wake up in the mornings wanting to jump back into bed. I don't want a job because of money. I don't want to sit in a college doing something that I hate. You're not me. You're not my soul. I am myself. When I'm older I want to wake up happy in the mornings. Maybe I'll have a low paying job, but at least each ounce of blood that flows along my veins wouldn't feel like Poisson. My smile wouldn't be garnished in a mask covered in made pretend happiness. Please stop telling me the good things, and bad things about what I want to do because I am clearly aware of that. But I am clearly aware I don't want to be like you. "
Alexa Evangelista (A.E) , Advice for people that want to be a writer. When a person that hates their job tells you what to do.
