Don’t stop our kids living their dreams
WHEN I grow up, I want to be a doctor. At 15, I shared that dream with a teacher at my rubbish, failing comprehensive school.
She told me I should “try hairdressing” instead.
As someone who can’t even cut wrapping paper in a straight line, I know I’d have been hopeless at that. I might not have made it as a doctor, either.
Who knows? But I didn’t even dare to dream, thanks to my teacher’s ‘advice’.
So, I was pretty cross when, on Thursday, I read about the junior school in Salisbury that asked pupils to come in dressed as what they’d like to be when they grow up.
It could be anything, a letter to parents stated, as long as it wasn’t “sports people or pop stars or YouTubers”. “These are great ambitions,” it read, “but so hard to achieve! Because of this… we are not allowing these choices.” If pupils harboured any of the forbidden ambitions they were asked to come up with a “Plan B” instead. Can I just intervene here, teachers? MOST ambitions are “hard to achieve”. A plumber, an electrician, a nurse, a doctor? A teacher, even? All admirable ambitions. All unachievable without putting the work in. Admittedly, there are professions only a few need consider. Sport is one, maybe. Some careers require a special kind of innate talent, honed by hard work. You can want to be Eden Hazard, but you ain’t going to be him because part of his gift is God-given.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dream, shouldn’t try.
Jamie Vardy is a case in point – a passion for football, a relentless grafter, a determined semi-pro-turnedPremiership-winning striker. (Please come to Chelsea, Jamie!).
Pop stars? Talent essential, but hard work and determination can turn a warbler into a performer. YouTubers? Any old show-off with a passion and a modicum of personality can do that. Surely?
So, how did I end up on this page? And on television? It certainly wasn’t part of the plan for a girl from a disreputable comprehensive school who wanted to be a doctor. It was that tried and trusted combination: determination, hard work, no clock-watching, no putting leisure before work and a bit of luck.
My teacher told me not to dream of being a doctor. So I dreamt of another career she’d no doubt have said was even more impossible. And made it.
And if I can. Anyone can. Whether the naysayers think you’re capable. Or not.
You won’t be Eden Hazard... but why not have a try?