Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices and choices determine our action.

—Dallin H Daks

I still remember the moment when my sister and brother-in-law addressed their first baby as a future engineer before they addressed him as their son in the hospital ward. At that time, I wondered if it was unfortunate that the baby had come to this world. He didn’t even know his name or that he was a human being, and there his parents were already dreaming on his behalf.

His future was going to be decided by others. He wouldn’t be able to formulate his dreams on his own. And this was not a singular situation. This happened in every family to all the newborns. The parents decide what their child should pursue before the kids are even born.

Every child is accompanied by certain expectations from the very beginning. Our parents, relatives, society, teachers, in fact, even our friends expect us to lead life in a certain way regardless of how we feel about it.

In this world of outwardly expectations the seeds of personal desires don’t get good environment. Hence more often than not, they die on their own. We claim that we want our life to be full of opportunities and satisfaction but the bitter truth is that it is never “our” life; it is always “their” life.

Wishing for somebody to do well or expecting something good from us is not a bad thing per se. But forcing us to do what they think is right for us is not right. Imposing one’s dream on somebody else is so wrong.

Many youths commit suicide when they aren’t able to fulfill their parents’ dream. On a closer look, it is often found that these youths are struggling because of the clash between their own wishes and their family’s desires for them.

I am not saying that all parents impose their desire on their kids. My parents for example don’t expect me to be the perfect girl they probably wished they had. They usually let me be who I am and let me pursue what I like.

But there are too many examples of parents, teachers, and relatives who do not care what a kid wants. All they care for is their own idea of how the kid should be.

People often claim that this is the era of freedom. And while we may not be in chains physically, emotionally we are still captives of somebody’s idea of us. Children are often under unnecessary burden, and truth be told, it is a kind of torture.

Even though we have come a long way, we are still emotionally backward. So many kids and youth in my generation are under a lot of pressure to meet somebody else’s desire and live a life that will please everybody else. If our generation is in the danger of breaking down, then how is it possible for us to lay out a smooth path for the new generations ahead? The question might seem complex but the answer is very simple.

When you are trying to stop a child from pursuing her own dreams you are also killing the child’s ability to think for herself. Let the child dream for herself and pursue what makes her happy, and she might as well make a difference in the world. The great personalities like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, Michael Jackson, and Lady Gaga are some examples.

If Michael Jackson would have been forced to become a doctor; Lady Gaga, an engineer; Mother Teresa, a singer; what would have happened? Obviously, they would not have been the role models they are today for us.

They were able to leave an impact in the world because they listened not to the world, but to their hearts. So, let the children follow their dreams and desires.

Cutting down the forests of expectations

I’m planting the seeds of desires

Follow the path of your dream

For sure some day your trouble will leave its heir.

Dhakal is a +2 student at Nepal Police School