Journal of Texas Women School Executives; Volume 7, Issue 1

Walking in Your Purpose: When Dreams Become Reality Daberechi Okafor, M.Ed, Assistant Principal, Centerville Elementary-Garland ISD Dream on fellow dreamers, continue to push forward and may your dreams become your reality!

A dream is a desire which has not yet been revealed. It is a deep longing that tugs at one’s heart until it is seen, believed, and achieved. At the age of 13, I experienced such a phenomenon, the desire to create something greater than myself. I did not realize then that my experiences would lead me to the path I am on now, the path to creating a lasting impact in the lives of children. I did not know where this dream came from or what it meant; all I knew was that the dream had to be done. Over the past 20 years, I have journeyed through different phases of my life as I walk toward my purpose, leading me from desire to reality, and from dreaming to achieving.

Phase one: You are not too young to dream.

I sat in class working and listening to my 8th grade reading teacher. It came upon me suddenly as if God had whispered in my ear, “this is your destiny.” At the moment, I knew that somehow, I would open a school in Nigeria to provide other students just like me with the opportunity to learn.

That is still my dream. I did not understand the meaning of that dream, nor did I grasp the magnitude of the journey ahead.

Dreams are powerful if we believe and pursue them. Dreams are the “why” behind our actions and they give purpose to our mission. Conversely, if we lose sight of our dreams, we threaten to lose the very thing that ignited our passion. In their research, K. A. Down, L. Down, 2018, remind us that there is evidence “that having a strong belief that change is possible is a powerful driver of change”. This study demonstrates the power of belief as a driving force to change; it is not based on age but on your desire to effect change.

Phase two: Obstacles are a part of the process The years following my experience in my 8th-grade class were filled with obstacles that threatened to consume and engulf the fire that was ignited. While in High School, my father passed away unexpectedly, which caused me to question everything. I was unsure of who I was and my purpose in life; I became lost; however, I somehow prevailed. I entered college with the remnants of my dreams resonating in my heart, committing to myself and my father that I would not fail. Although I didn’t realize it, my father became my why. After college, I married and had my first child, but soon after, my son became ill. We were told that he would never develop at the appropriate levels for his age and that he may not be as successful as his peers; this news hit my heart like a knife stabbing me every minute. Once again, I began to question my future and purpose as I allowed doubt and fear to manifest and consume me. However, I refused to give up on my son, and with prayer, hard work, and perseverance, my son not only met but surpassed his learning goals. This experience allowed me to see that all students can achieve success regardless of their background and development when provided with the resources, tools, and support they need. Born from the struggles my son experienced was the drive to become an educational advocate for all students.

Unfortunately, obstacles and trials are unavoidable, they strike when you least expect it, and they leave pain and hurt in its path. The question is not if obstacles will come, but when. Hence, we 90 | J O U R N A L O F T E X A S S C H O O L W O M E N E X E C U T I V E S