Between school and dreams

A new beginning

Tuesday morning felt different.

I couldn't explain why.

Maybe it was because of the career presentation.

Maybe it was because I had spent half the night thinking about my future instead of sleeping.

Or maybe it was because something was coming.

Something I couldn't see yet.

I stood in front of my mirror, adjusting my school tie.

“CEO,” I whispered to my reflection.

It sounded strange.

Big.

Almost impossible.

Then I smiled.

“Future CEO.”

That sounded better.

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs.

My mother was sitting at the table with a cup of tea.

“You look happy today.”

“I am.”

“Good. Keep that smile.”

I smiled again.

“I will.”

---

When I reached school, Maya was already waiting for me.

“You're early!”

I laughed.

“Don't get used to it.”

We walked toward our classroom together.

But before we could enter, we noticed a group of students gathered around the noticeboard.

“What happened?” I asked.

Maya shrugged.

“Probably another announcement.”

We squeezed through the crowd.

Then I saw it.

A piece of paper had been pinned to the board.

NEW STUDENT JOINING CLASS 11B

Underneath it was a name.

Ethan Carter.

Maya looked at me.

“New student.”

“So?”

“So… new students are always interesting.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You say that about everyone.”

“Because it's true.”

Before I could respond, the bell rang.

We hurried into class.

Our teacher entered a few minutes later.

Everyone became quiet.

“Good morning, everyone.”

“Good morning, ma.”

She smiled.

“Before we begin, I'd like you all to welcome a new student.”

The classroom door opened.

A boy walked in.

He looked around the room calmly, holding his backpack over one shoulder.

“This is Ethan Carter. He recently moved here, and he'll be joining our class.”

“Hi,” he said.

A few students whispered to each other.

Our teacher pointed toward an empty seat.

“You can sit there.”

The empty seat happened to be directly behind me.

Maya gave me a look.

I ignored her.

Ethan walked past us and sat down.

Our teacher began the lesson.

I tried to concentrate.

I really did.

But five minutes later, a small piece of paper landed on my desk.

I looked around.

Then slowly opened it.

Do you always take this many notes?

I turned around.

Ethan was looking at me.

I raised an eyebrow and wrote underneath:

Do you always talk during class?

He smiled.

Then he wrote:

Only when I'm bored.

I turned back around, trying not to smile.

Maya noticed.

Of course she did.

She leaned toward me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You're smiling.”

“I'm not.”

“You definitely are.”

“Pay attention.”

She laughed quietly.

---

After class, we headed to the library to work on our career presentation.

I opened my notebook.

Maya looked at the page.

“Okay, future CEO. What's the plan?”

I sighed.

“That's the problem. I don't have one.”

“You don't need everything figured out right now.”

“I know.”

“But?”

“But what if I fail?”

Maya became quiet.

I stared at the words in my notebook.

It was easy to say you wanted something.

It was harder to believe you could actually achieve it.

“What if everyone laughs at me?” I asked.

Maya closed her book.

“Then let them laugh.”

I looked at her.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. People will always have something to say. But they won't be the ones living your life.”

Her words stayed with me.

Maybe she was right.

I picked up my pen.

“Okay.”

“Okay what?”

“I'm doing it.”

She smiled.

“That's my girl.”

I began writing.

My dream is to become a CEO because…

I stopped.

For the first time, I didn't feel afraid of the sentence.

I continued writing.

---

When we left the library, I noticed Ethan standing by the lockers.

He looked like he was trying to find something.

“Lost?” I asked.

He looked up.

“Maybe.”

“Your classroom is down that hallway.”

“I know.”

“Then what are you looking for?”

He smiled.

“My locker.”

I laughed.

“What's the number?”

“217.”

I pointed toward the other side.

“That's your locker.”

He looked at it.

Then back at me.

“Oh.”

I laughed.

“You've been standing here the whole time?”

“Apparently.”

“Good luck surviving this school.”

“Thanks.”

I started walking away.

“Hey.”

I turned.

“Yeah?”

“Your presentation.”

I frowned.

“How do you know about it?”

“I heard the teacher talking about it.”

“Oh.”

He nodded.

“I think your idea is good.”

“What idea?”

“Becoming a CEO.”

I stared at him.

“You heard that?”

“Everyone heard it.”

I felt my face warm.

“Right.”

He smiled.

“Don't change it just because other people think it's too big.”

Then he walked away.

I stood there for a moment.

It was a simple sentence.

But somehow, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

---

That evening, I opened my notebook again.

I looked at the words I had written earlier.

I WILL BUILD MY OWN FUTURE.

Then I added something underneath.

Even if I'm scared.

I closed the notebook.

Outside my window, the sky was turning orange.

I didn't know what tomorrow would bring.

I didn't know if my dream would come true.

I didn't know what Ethan Carter's arrival would mean for my life.

But for the first time, I wasn't trying to figure everything out.

I was simply taking the next step.

And sometimes...

That's where every dream begins.