When we are birthed cocooned in innocence, our brain ripe for anything. We learn without doubting our ability to comprehend. We thirst, taking in our surroundings while bursting with a zillion questions. We want to fit in yet seek with earnest to transform the environment surrounding us. We make our spirited entrance ready to paint with full body brushes on a wide open canvass in big, bold, angular strokes running off the borders.
No one to stop us; why would they? We are little explorers with big dreams. It's cute they say. Look at him so wide eyed, so optimistic and unspoiled in his determinations. "Come here dear, tell grandpa again what you want to be when you grow up. An international diplomat you say, well okay, keep doing what you are doing and you will get there. Now here's a dollar run along and play, keep dreaming big." They grin and giggle while winking that 'let him dream' wink before returning to their bid whist marathon soaked in menthol and bourbon.
In high school he is steered toward the less challenging of the curriculum courses. Just get him through, he will have a hard enough time as it is. Never mind challenging him beyond his comfort zone; we don't want to discourage his progress. He will graduate, let's not push it. Anyway college is out of the question. One he can't afford it and two the best scholarships are reserved for the highest achievers. No need to despair he will learn a great trade and make a descent living for him and his family. We can't save everybody.
Without fanfare, he graduates high school. For the faintest moment he has the slightest glimmer of the time when he was a very young child. Pulsing through his spirit he recalls his original thirst. A time when he was his sole cheerleader. He believed in his own potential unquestionably.
As he approaches the podium to receive his diploma, mustering the courage within, to their total dismay and his delight, he reaches for the microphone. Alone and aloud he speaks "et risum renidet and sonrisay y ristas." Grin and giggles; LATIN, Grin and giggles; SPANISH.
And so it began, and he knew what he must do.
No one to stop us; why would they? We are little explorers with big dreams. It's cute they say. Look at him so wide eyed, so optimistic and unspoiled in his determinations. "Come here dear, tell grandpa again what you want to be when you grow up. An international diplomat you say, well okay, keep doing what you are doing and you will get there. Now here's a dollar run along and play, keep dreaming big." They grin and giggle while winking that 'let him dream' wink before returning to their bid whist marathon soaked in menthol and bourbon.
In high school he is steered toward the less challenging of the curriculum courses. Just get him through, he will have a hard enough time as it is. Never mind challenging him beyond his comfort zone; we don't want to discourage his progress. He will graduate, let's not push it. Anyway college is out of the question. One he can't afford it and two the best scholarships are reserved for the highest achievers. No need to despair he will learn a great trade and make a descent living for him and his family. We can't save everybody.
Without fanfare, he graduates high school. For the faintest moment he has the slightest glimmer of the time when he was a very young child. Pulsing through his spirit he recalls his original thirst. A time when he was his sole cheerleader. He believed in his own potential unquestionably.
As he approaches the podium to receive his diploma, mustering the courage within, to their total dismay and his delight, he reaches for the microphone. Alone and aloud he speaks "et risum renidet and sonrisay y ristas." Grin and giggles; LATIN, Grin and giggles; SPANISH.
And so it began, and he knew what he must do.
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