At 17 years old, I saw ambition and opportunity as inseparable. I had spent years refining a vision—one where I would create something meaningful, forge my own path, and turn ideas into reality. So when a senior-year job training program promised the chance to connect with local businesses and receive college assistance, it felt like the perfect launchpad. But just when I thought I was stepping toward my future, an unexpected turn changed everything.
A Future Full of Possibilities
At age 17, I was excited about an opportunity that seemed like the perfect steppingstone into my future. My senior year of high school included a job training program that promised participants a chance to work with select local companies, along with college assistance. All we had to do was submit an essay answering a simple yet profound question: Where do you see yourself in five years?
One Defining Question
All I had to do was answer a single, profound question:
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I knew my answer the moment I read the question. I see myself as an entrepreneur, building my own company.
I poured my vision into that essay. My goal wasn’t just financial success—it was about creating something meaningful, solving problems, and carving a path that reflected my passion. I submitted my essay with confidence, eager to see what doors this opportunity would open.
The Silence That Spoke Volumes
Days passed. Then weeks. While others received feedback and guidance from the recruiter, I heard nothing. Confused, I finally sought her out. When I asked her directly about my submission, her response stunned me.
"You’re disqualified," she said. "Your five-year plan to become an entrepreneur is a threat to the local marketplace."
I remember standing there, trying to process those words. I hadn’t expected immediate applause or blind approval, but to hear that my dreams were viewed as a threat—not ambitious, not inspiring, but something to be shut down—was a different kind of discouragement.
Lessons from Monty Roberts
It reminds me of Monty Roberts' story—the world-renowned horse trainer. As a teenager, Monty was asked to write about his future dreams for a school assignment. His vision? To own a horse ranch, train thoroughbreds, and live a life dedicated to his passion for horses. But when he turned in his essay, his teacher dismissed his dream as unrealistic and told him to rewrite it with a more "attainable" goal.
Monty refused. He kept his dream alive, even though the world told him it was impossible. Years later, he proved them all wrong—he built his ranch, trained some of the finest racehorses, and became a legend in his field.
Like Monty, I realized something: Some systems aren’t designed to encourage independent thinkers. Some people see potential not as promise, but as disruption.
But here’s the thing—they didn’t disqualify me from success. They didn’t take away my ability to dream, to build, to become. If anything, they reinforced why entrepreneurship matters. It exists because of those who challenge the status quo.
A Message to Visionaries
Looking back, I don’t regret my response. I wouldn’t change a single word. And to anyone who has ever been told that their dreams are "too big" or "too different” keep going.
After all, the marketplace needs visionaries.
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