Dreams of the Future

"Sometime in the future I would have to build my dream out of those things that were so much a part of my childhood."

Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya, 261

Like Antonio, I have definitely shaped much of my adulthood from things that happened to me during my childhood. Unlike Antonio, my childhood is filled with so many happy memories that have affected my life for the best. Poor Antonio obviously didn't grow up as a member of the church, so his childhood was plagued with several experiences that no child should have to endure. But even so, the things that we go through as children really do have a large effect on us as we grow up.

Although these experiences make their way into our lives without us noticing, how can we go about purposely building our dreams for the future from past events of our childhood? While Antonio saw many frightening things as a child, he can also take the positive interactions with his family and Ultima into account as he builds his dream for the future. If he becomes a priest, he can remember the way so many live, and know better exactly how to help them.

I choose to bring my childhood into my future dreams because of the positive experiences I had. I can use the lessons I learned from my family, my school, my friends, my bus rides, my sports teams, my leadership roles, and much more to become a better father, brother, husband, and person. I will choose to build my dream in the future with the foundation of the childhood that got me here. I may not have been as wise and mature as Antonio, but I certainly learned a lot of things that have helped me along the way.