In the quiet classroom, a young schoolchild sat alone, their face a picture of concentration. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" the essay prompt echoed in their mind, a question that seemed simple yet had led to a series of complex answers. The child had written six essays already, each filled with dreams and ambitions, only to be met with rejection by Mrs. Massey, their teacher.
The child remembered their first essay, an earnest declaration of wanting to become God. "I wanted to be God," they had written, envisioning a world reshaped by their hands. But Mrs. Massey, with a patient smile, explained the impossibility of such an aspiration. Undeterred, the child tried again, imagining life as a king, a president, and an astronaut, each essay filled with vivid plans and grand visions. Yet each time, Mrs. Massey gently guided them back to reality, asking for something more attainable.
As lunchtime came and went, the child remained in their seat, determined to craft an essay that would finally satisfy Mrs. Massey. The sixth essay, a detailed fantasy of being a nuclear silo base worker, was met with similar dismissal. They were told once more to aim lower, to choose something grounded, something that seemed within reach.
The child paused, thinking of what they truly wanted. In their seventh attempt, they wrote a simple paragraph about becoming a teacher. "I want to be a teacher, like Mrs. Massey," they penned, hoping this time their work would be met with approval. It was a humble choice, yet one that resonated with their experiences.
Mrs. Massey read the paragraph, her eyes softening. "Your essay is too short, but if this is truly what you want, I will submit it," she said. The child nodded, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. When the essay returned with a D grade, Mrs. Massey remarked, "You will never be a teacher with those grades!" Yet, in that moment, the child understood that their dreams were valid, even if not yet fully realized.
The child left the classroom, their heart still full of dreams. They knew that while their essays may not have pleased Mrs. Massey, each one was a step towards discovering who they wanted to become. And perhaps, someday, they would write an essay that needed no rewriting.
