Before I start, I'd like to say: I am officially 22-years-old!! Yesterday was my birthday. Also...3 more days left until I'm back home in Hawaii! HOORAY! Okay...Now I'll begin...
At a young age my parents (mostly my dad) taught me to dream big.
My parents are immigrants from the Philippines. When I was really young we lived in a tiny, tiny house in a less privileged part of the island. Both of my parents worked constantly and they scraped together coins and food stamps for groceries.
My mom, being the realist, was discouraged by her situation in America. My dad, on the other hand, knew that dreams can get you places. So they started dreaming and they made something of themselves. They now own their own house, their own business and work from home. Both my sister and I were put through college without the need for student loans.
I've always been more interested in the arts. Drawing, painting, writing, reading, dancing, you name it. As a kid my dad really encouraged this. "Who knows," he'd say. "Maybe you'll sell your paintings for a million dollars one day!" As a kid, this made my eyes sparkle. "Yeah..." I'd think dreamily.
To this day, my dad still says things like that to me. "You never know!" He said to me on the phone a couple of months ago. "You could write a book and be the next JK Rowling! You could write the next Harry Potter!" For this, I love my dad. Just hearing how much he believes in me makes me tear up sometimes.
I am a firm believer in dreaming big, so I thought I'd do a short blog series about my dreams. I'd like to start it off with my dream job(s).
My parents are immigrants from the Philippines. When I was really young we lived in a tiny, tiny house in a less privileged part of the island. Both of my parents worked constantly and they scraped together coins and food stamps for groceries.
My mom, being the realist, was discouraged by her situation in America. My dad, on the other hand, knew that dreams can get you places. So they started dreaming and they made something of themselves. They now own their own house, their own business and work from home. Both my sister and I were put through college without the need for student loans.
I've always been more interested in the arts. Drawing, painting, writing, reading, dancing, you name it. As a kid my dad really encouraged this. "Who knows," he'd say. "Maybe you'll sell your paintings for a million dollars one day!" As a kid, this made my eyes sparkle. "Yeah..." I'd think dreamily.
To this day, my dad still says things like that to me. "You never know!" He said to me on the phone a couple of months ago. "You could write a book and be the next JK Rowling! You could write the next Harry Potter!" For this, I love my dad. Just hearing how much he believes in me makes me tear up sometimes.
I am a firm believer in dreaming big, so I thought I'd do a short blog series about my dreams. I'd like to start it off with my dream job(s).
YouTuber/Blogger/Website Owner/Writer
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Shortly after discovering my love of YouTube, I started dreaming about one day making it my job.
I hope thatNerdsy.net will take off and being an editor there can be my job. I dream that I'll make Nerdsy, my two YouTube channels, and my blog my job. Then I'll be able to work from home, or pretty much anywhere that has internet, which means I can travel to my heart's desire! How cool would that be?! I'd be doing all the things I love!
This was something I started dreaming about when I was 18. Back then, my dreams felt as far as the stars. It was too far out of my reach and I couldn't realistically see it as a part of my future. After 3 years, I felt like I still hadn't gotten anywhere and it was really getting to me.
Then, this past summer, I met someone who told me about her dreams. She wanted to be a fashion journalist, and an opera singer, and she wasn't ashamed or shy about it. Natalie has two different fashion blogs. Forever in the Nines and Frugal Fashion 101.
I've always been pretty quiet about my dreams, offering more realistic ones to those who asked in fear that they'd laugh at my real ones. Maybe it was because Natalie was so honest about her dreams, or maybe it was because I'd been telling myself to be more open about my online life. Whatever it was, I told her--a complete stranger at the time--about my real dreams.
I tried to play it off, like it was something ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to achieve for a while, but she was so encouraging. I think at that point I realized that I needed to stop hiding my dreams, because it could very well be what was holding me back. In a way, Natalie has really helped me along in my dream process. She and I are now friends, so thanks so much Natalie!
Since then, I've realized a couple of things. While this is a big, big dream, it's completely possible. Since then, I've put my heart and all my hard work into my blog, and it's really paid off! I went from zero views a month, to a couple hundred, then...a couple thousand! Right now I'm averaging about 4,000 views a month but it's steadily increasing. I'm still amazed and so freaking excited!
I also realized that YouTube (and blogging too, don't worry) holds a very special place in my heart, and I need to stay true to who I am and just continue doing what I love. That's the only way I'll be able to grow and make my dreams come true.
I know a lot of us here are young, but I'd love to know your career dreams and aspirations. I'm starting to feel like my dreams aren't as ridiculous as I once believed. So what "silly" dreams do you have?
I hope thatNerdsy.net will take off and being an editor there can be my job. I dream that I'll make Nerdsy, my two YouTube channels, and my blog my job. Then I'll be able to work from home, or pretty much anywhere that has internet, which means I can travel to my heart's desire! How cool would that be?! I'd be doing all the things I love!
This was something I started dreaming about when I was 18. Back then, my dreams felt as far as the stars. It was too far out of my reach and I couldn't realistically see it as a part of my future. After 3 years, I felt like I still hadn't gotten anywhere and it was really getting to me.
Then, this past summer, I met someone who told me about her dreams. She wanted to be a fashion journalist, and an opera singer, and she wasn't ashamed or shy about it. Natalie has two different fashion blogs. Forever in the Nines and Frugal Fashion 101.
I've always been pretty quiet about my dreams, offering more realistic ones to those who asked in fear that they'd laugh at my real ones. Maybe it was because Natalie was so honest about her dreams, or maybe it was because I'd been telling myself to be more open about my online life. Whatever it was, I told her--a complete stranger at the time--about my real dreams.
I tried to play it off, like it was something ridiculous that I wouldn't be able to achieve for a while, but she was so encouraging. I think at that point I realized that I needed to stop hiding my dreams, because it could very well be what was holding me back. In a way, Natalie has really helped me along in my dream process. She and I are now friends, so thanks so much Natalie!
Since then, I've realized a couple of things. While this is a big, big dream, it's completely possible. Since then, I've put my heart and all my hard work into my blog, and it's really paid off! I went from zero views a month, to a couple hundred, then...a couple thousand! Right now I'm averaging about 4,000 views a month but it's steadily increasing. I'm still amazed and so freaking excited!
I also realized that YouTube (and blogging too, don't worry) holds a very special place in my heart, and I need to stay true to who I am and just continue doing what I love. That's the only way I'll be able to grow and make my dreams come true.
I know a lot of us here are young, but I'd love to know your career dreams and aspirations. I'm starting to feel like my dreams aren't as ridiculous as I once believed. So what "silly" dreams do you have?
keep each other safe, keep faith,
Mo
Mo