Why it's important to have a dream

Topics mentioned: self-care, racism and mental health

About: Joseph explains how having a dream and a goal to work towards has helped his mental health, and shares his tips for making your dream a reality.

Life can be difficult sometimes. Being a Black person from London, it can be even more difficult. This is because of some of the negative stereotypes people might have about me. It can sometimes feel constricting, as these stereotypes can make you feel inferior.

For instance, when I am walking around in public I feel looked down upon at times. And I don’t think it’s right when I do speak up that people are surprised at my ability to speak ‘proper’ because of their preconceptions. I asked one of my friends and he described it as the world viewing us as being “a step behind.”

Sadly, some of these attitudes towards Black people can seep into the Black community. For example, when I was ten I was told “I don’t act black,” which at that age led to me question my identity and change little mannerisms to be a more ‘stereotypical black person’. As a result, I can see why other Black people feel like they have no option but to behave a certain way, even if it’s not authentic to them. But nobody should have to change themselves because of what society expects from them.

Luckily for me, I didn’t change completely because “I had a dream.”

I’ve put “I had a dream” in quotation marks on purpose because it makes me think of the famous speech by Martin Luther King, in which he said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” I like this quote because it always reminds me that your skin colour shouldn’t pressure you to act in a certain way, because you are more than your skin colour.

“I had a dream” also has another meaning for me. When I was 11, my primary school took part in IntoUniversity. It is a charity scheme that helps disadvantaged young people gain a place in higher education. Here, I was told about university and I began dreaming of going.

Your dream may not be university, it may be music, acting or football, but whatever it is, don’t be afraid to dream and dream big. This is because a dream means that you have a goal, which drives you. It is this drive that allows you to overcome the odds, whatever they are - for example, negative stereotypes.

So now take a moment to think about your dream and write it down. Don’t worry if it feels unachievable now - remember that anything is possible!

Now that you have a dream, how do you move towards making it a reality?

I hope this has helped you think about what your dream is and what you can do to get there. Having a sense of purpose can be really powerful for your mental health. But remember that it’s not about the destination as much as it is the journey that you go on to get there.