Do you ever wonder what it would be like to live a life you know is not meant for you? Maybe one day you could be the president of the United States. Or, you could train hard enough to be an Olympic figure skater. Or, what if you could find the cure to cancer? Many of us have childhood dreams about what we want to be when we grow up. I, for one, always dreamt of being a Broadway star. For some of us, those dreams will come true. For others of us, we’ll re-evaluate situations, find new passions and work towards goals that differ from what we originally saw our life becoming. I, clearly, am not in pursuit of a life on the stage (that pays the bills). But, I think in a lot of ways, I have learned a little bit about how to keep my childhood dreams alive in both my personal life and my professional life. So, thus begins the story of how the Midwestern little girl, who lived, breathed and dreamed of being on Broadway became the college student, excited about a career in journalism, who only day-dreams about originating a pivotal role in musical theater.

I was a ham when I was growing up. I wore my dance costumes around the house. I directed plays of my brother and me in my living room. And, when my extended family would gather for dinner on Friday nights, I would make everyone get in a circle and play a game called “Punchanella” that basically involved me singing and dancing for everyone in the room. By second grade, I was able to channel that energy into theater classes. Soon, I began to imagine myself starring in plays that had an audience consisting of more that just my family. I studied Idina Menzel, Barbra Streisand and Sutton Foster, longing to be like them one day. And, I dreamt of standing ovations, Tony Awards and sold out crowds. But, that’s all it was for me: a dream. Some people are able to fiercely go after their dreams, work hard and become determined to succeed. And, I admire that greatly. But, personally, I always knew that my life would lead me other places. When I approached the college application process, it was the first time I began to really contemplate what I realistically wanted to do with my life. I left high school with so many passions and interests that it seemed as though my mind was changing every day. One minute, I’d be determined to be a history teacher. And the next minute I’d contemplate going into arts education. Right now, neither of those possibilities are remotely close to the path I am currently on. I took an internship at a locally based news network this summer that ultimately changed the way I look at my future. After my internship, I became fairly certain that I want a career in broadcast journalism. Here’s why:

1. Just as I love working on a show and seeing it come together, I love watching news stories develop. I love being in the newsroom with the producers and watching the line-up come together.
2. While one of my favorite parts of theater is writing original work, I love writing news pieces just as much.
3. The part I love about being on stage is commanding an audience’s attention. While I may not be garnering attention by belting out a high B, reporters have a responsibility to get the attention of the public so that everyday people are educated about the world around them.

So, my life isn’t exactly what I thought it was going to be. But, when you take a closer look, it’s not all that different either. I have found a career path that excites me, challenges me and seems accessible in the future. And, while I realize that I will never be the next Babs, the most important part is that I haven’t lost my inner Fanny Brice. The shower is my karaoke bar, class presentations are my stage and if you see me strutting down Wood Steps you can bet I’m pretending to be the dance captain of this school. “I’m The Greatest Star” Fanny Brice

What did you dream of being when you grow up? How are those dreams impacting your life today? Are you living your dreams in some way? I hope you are.

Sweet Dreams,
Laurel