People love to dream. Almost everyone does; they picture the life they want to live, the job they want to have, the things they want to accomplish. The fun part is formulating a dream. The difficult part is making it a reality. Usain Bolt once said, “Dreams are free. Goals have costs. While you can daydream for free, goals don’t come without a price. Time, effort, sacrifice, and sweat. How will you pay for your goals?”
Some people have a different kind of drive within them. An intense passion. A unique ability to stay focused on a goal and keep running until they cross the finish line. Their unwavering dedication to achieving their dreams is what sets them apart from the average person. They display unfaltering consistency. Steadfast dedication. Drive. Commitment. Tenacity. And above all, passion.
One can not follow a dream without passion. They have to love it. Whatever dream they are following, it has to be something that makes them happy. When someone is passionate about what they are doing, it is almost guaranteed that they will achieve their goal.
Bay Area resident Anthony Goblirsch is an 18-year-old high school senior who has had the same dream since he was 12: to become a police officer. He is one of those unique individuals who will not stop until he reaches his goal. Ever since he discovered the role he wanted to play in life, he has been on the path to make it happen. He has gone through intense training programs, dedicated thousands of hours, and is consistently striving to improve. All this, and his journey only continues. It sounds like grueling work. It is. But none of it feels like a chore for him. Because he is doing what he loves. He is following his passion.
“I’ve always been interested in police cars and fire engines. I think I was about 12 years old when I got my first police scanner, and I thought that law enforcement might be something that I would be interested in doing as a career…. When I was about 13 years old, I started a YouTube channel where I took videos of police cars and firetrucks and whatnot. And when I was 14, I joined the Police Explorers Program and got to go on ridealongs and do training, and learn more about what the career is. And through that, I was able to kind of hone in on what exactly I wanted to do when I was older. And I think that seeing a career where you’re out and about, you’re interacting with people, you’re making a positive impact on people’s lives, that just seemed like something that was a calling for me,” Goblirsch said, when asked about his journey.
Every day, Anthony gets closer to accomplishing his goal. He has come a long way from the boy who stood on the side of the street with a camera in hand, watching in awe as police cars zoomed by. He is now planning for the fast-approaching future.
“My next step is applying to a department after I graduate from high school in about four months. I’ll start applying to whatever agencies have non-sworn positions for 18-year-olds open, which will probably be the Stanford Department of Public Safety,” said Goblirsch.
Although it seems like everything has been smooth sailing since he discovered his passion, Anthony has had people try to push him in another direction. There will always be people who try to steer others away from their dreams, whether or not it is done with good intentions. However, no one should allow themselves to give up their goal simply because of another person’s influence.
“My mom has never wanted me to go into law enforcement, because it’s a very dangerous career… She’s tried to steer me toward other things, like news videography. But I feel that law enforcement is a more fulfilling career, and I still want to keep pushing toward that calling of mine,” said Anthony, when asked if he has felt supported in striving for his goal.
It is important for people to really think about what it is that they want. Not what other people want. Not what they have been told to want. But the most powerful dreams within them are the things they want for themselves. When they find it, they will know. And that is the thing they should chase.
“I think it’s very important to follow your goals, regardless of what other people say, because you should follow your passion. You know yourself better than anyone else. … Don’t feel confined or constrained to one singular path. Do what you’re good at, and do what you enjoy. Because that’s going to take you further than the path that other people want for you,” Goblirsch said.
Olympic gold-medalist Donovan Bailey said it best: “Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and above all, don’t let anyone limit your dreams.”
