Tag: graduation

Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

At seventeen years old, I was a high school graduate. I’ve always had big dreams. One of them was to be a doctor by age 22. Between moving to the United States and getting adjusted, I lost several years. In May 2011, I graduated from undergraduate with an associate degree at age 21. During my graduation, a married couple at my church gifted me this Journal (pictured above) and being the scribbler that I am, I immediately started penning what my journey moving forward would be like. Sitting on my little balcony in New Jersey apartment, I started dreaming and thinking of my life after community college.

My ultimate goal was to be a Doctor of Pharmacy. I had several paths outlined that I could take…several colleges I desired to attend and several things I could do to reach my final career destination. I remember praying over my dreams and aspirations out loud and asking God, which way I should take. I also remember hearing a voice whisper softly to me, “take the way I instruct you. Follow my lead and listen. I AM with you.” For the next several months, I took sometime off to grasp the process of applying to pharmacy school.

The greatest poverty is not when you don’t have a dime, it is when you don’t have a dream.

Martin Luther King

I’m a dreamer. I can spend an entire Saturday morning sipping on hot tea, meditating and dreaming about life. I love to draw a mental (and physical) picture of what life would be in the next year or two or even the next decade. I love the sense of relaxation I feel when I’m in deep thoughts plus it cost absolutely nothing to dream. In fact, God invites us to dream great dreams. For me, writing down my dreams and going back years later to see how far I’ve come always bring me a sense of joy and fulfillment. Let’s be real here for a second, sometimes not every bullet point on your dream list will be fulfilled and that is okay. For me, Harding University was not on my list of colleges to attend but God in His infinite wisdom led me to a very small town in Arkansas and years later to my current residence (in the same state) where I’m surrounded by people I love so dearly. God’s way for us might be different than what we envision but make no mistake, it’s always the right path. His plans are perfect beyond your wildest dreams.

Dreams are powerful. Dreams carry meaning. Have you ever heard the phrase, you’re what you believe? Yeah. Dreams are basically our thought process; we attract good things when we have positive thoughts. The opposite is also true – bad thoughts attracts bad energy. Hear me say this: dreams do not just work out. It requires prayers, hard work and some more prayers. I dare you today, to dream the dream God has planned for you. You will be amazed at what he does in and through you. I dare you to also write out those dreams.

In closing, I’ll echo Billy Graham’s words to encourage anyone struggling to realize the path God has for them and for you my friend who is already on that path also to: “Dream great dreams, embrace great principles, renew your hope, but above all, believe in the Christ who alone can give total meaning and an ultimate goal to your life.”

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” – Acts 17:28

  • PRAY IT INTO EXISTENCE
  • WRITE IT INTO EXISTENCE
  • SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE

Jozy

No such thing as “The One”

No such thing as “The One”

How did you and your significant other meet? How did you know he or she was “the one?” Or you are still figuring it out? How did you fall in love? Was it love at first sight?

 

For me, it was far from love at first sight. I met my husband, CK, in high school. He enrolled in my school in my sophomore year…something about his dad pulled him out of his old high school because he wasn’t performing well. Thankfully, he was able to transfer his credits and start as a second year student. He was quiet and hardly spoke to any girl on campus except to me of course. Me, on the other hand, although shy, had a lot of male friends and admirers. By the end of my senior year, eleven guys would ask me out and my answer would be “no” every single time. Unlike most girls, the last thing on my mind in high school was finding a boyfriend. I was determined to get out of high school with good grades and gain admission to a reputable college to pursue my dreams and aspirations.

I knew nothing about CK except for the fact that he had a great voice and good looks. Although sometimes his lack of style and poor choice of clothes at that time was a real turn off for me.

The high school we attended was faith-based institution. Towards the end of every semester, school administration organize a grand praise and worship gathering. This event was an opportunity for the entire school to come together and worship God in songs and praises. About a week to the event, I asked CK to sing a Solo with me. No, I wasn’t in love with him. And yes, he agreed. To this date, I still don’t know what propelled me to ask him. Probably my outgoing personality at that time? We will never know. Months turned into weeks and weeks into days and soon came time for graduation. As we were moving out of our various campuses to go back home, we discovered that his house was about 30 minutes walking distance from mine. We became very close friends after graduation and the rest is history…..

There is no cinderella story here. No “romantic” beginning here. I met a guy, we became friends and we both fell in love. I remember thanking God for him and in the same breath I asked God to remove him from my life if he’s not the man he has prepared for me.

There is no such thing as the one. Many people go into relationships with expectations: “If I start dating, then I’ll be happy; He/She will solve all my problems and make me happy; everything is going to be perfect once I get married.” Marriage is a good thing. In fact, marriage is a fulfillment of God’s Word in Ephesians 5: 31-32. However, going into marriage, or any relationship for that matter, with a mindset to gain fulfillment from your partner, will leave you disappointed. I get it. I understand. Relationships are painted colorful on the outside, thus making people assume it’s rose-colored glasses, all easy and perfect when you enter into one. Fact is, relationships are hard. They take lots of effort and commitment. In order to find the right person, you equally have to be ready to become the right person. Even the “right person” if treated wrong or not loved right can sure become the wrong person for you.

So here’s my definition of The One: A person created in the image of God, whose loyalty is first of all to God, who sees faults and love regardless, who understands marriage is all or really ALL. A person who does not expect much of you and is willing to see the worst part of you. A person who equally understands and admit that he/she is flawed as well. That you both are a work in progress and together you will build each other up and be there for each other for better AND for worse.

Love is humble. Love is kind. Love is beautiful. Love embraces flaws. Love is patient. Love sees the beauty inside.