When I was smaller, I used to wish that I had super powers. After an episode of superman, I’d grab one of my mom’s long red coats, tie it around my back and run around the house fighting ‘bad guys.’ My friends and I even sat down and talked about the different powers we could have.

Then I got a bit older and threw away my dreams of being a superhero because it was impossible. I started dreaming of becoming a spy, thinking it was the next best thing.

Then my dreams again evolved as I grew and thought of running a small company.

Isn’t it strange how the older we get, the smaller and duller our dreams become? We live in a world of different possibilities yet we still hold back, afraid of disappointment; afraid of people who will come up to us and say, “I told you it wouldn’t work.” The world has brainwashed us into thinking only a select few can succeed, and the rest of us have to do smaller things. But why? Why can’t we all succeed?

Who says if you dream big, you fail? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying if you dream of becoming a superhero, you’ll eventually be able to fly. But you shouldn’t limit and downgrade yourself. You can become anything you want to be; whether it’s the president of your country or an actor receiving an Emmy.

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that was opposed by many. Yet he persevered and made it into a reality, although he did die before he could see it. Thomas Edison failed over 2000 times before creating the light bulb; even failure couldn’t stop him from achieving his dream. There are always going to be obstacles blocking your way. It’s up to you, whether you keep going or you give up.

As long as you dream big and work hard for it, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Yes, it might sound like a cliché, but it’s true.