Realizing Our Dreams

by Maroi Ech-Charkaouy, Morocco

Don’t give up on your dreams: you never know when it will be time for them to materialize. That is what I recently found out.

I have always been a dreaming girl; I have always believed I could do it all. But since the education system in Morocco gives us the opportunity to follow only one track, I’ve been forced to give up my other dreams. I chose to be an engineer from the choices that I had. I succeeded in my baccalaureate, specializing in computer sciences at the university. I thought I would keep going on this path, even though when I joined the university I had already lost my admiration of the field. I had no other choice. Whenever I talked to somebody about what else I might do, they would start saying: “Oh! You can’t change from the science field! If you wanted to change, you should have changed it a long time ago and not waited until you arrived at the university!” Others said: “Stop joking!! You are out of your mind! And if you change this field, what would you do?!” No one was taking me seriously.

So I had to choose by myself, without asking for others’ opinions.  English language was my passion and, once I knew I had the opportunity to transfer from the Science Faculty to Letter and Human Sciences’ Faculty, I took my chance and immediately changed my specialty into English studies.  My father was supportive of my decision, but the rest of my family was not. They asked: “What? Why have you changed your field? What are you going to do in your future?”

When studies started, I felt relieved and relaxed for the first time. I’d never felt that way about my studies before. I knew I had made the right choice. I never knew that this field would help me realize so many of my dreams. One of them is journalism. I am sure if I had not taken this path, I would not have known about the GlobalGirl Media program and never have had the opportunity to join it. That is why from now on, whenever I dream of something, even if it seems out of my league, I will follow it.  I do believe now that if you want something and you work hard to get it, you will eventually attain it. If not, while you are working for it, you might discover another path, more exciting and much more amazing for you. So keep it up, and never lose hope.