It’s official: we’re embarking upon Dreaming Upwards’ new chapter! Starting this spring, we’ll shift from focusing on the college journey and move to one near and dear to my heart: the storytelling journey.
Over the last year, I’ve taken a break from writing here. Between relocating to Italy, finishing my novel, returning to school, and dealing with life in general, it became clear that something needed to give. Or, as with my life, something needed to evolve.
During this pause, I reflected on Dreaming Upwards. As I thought about what I wanted the focus to be–what could possibly encapsulate everything I wanted to share with the world–I realized that the answer had been staring me in the face all along. Everything I had come back to time and time again had two things in common: a story to tell, and a dream to share.
Ever since I was six years old, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. No, not wanted. That it was my destiny, my calling, my purpose in life. I already loved reading, but there was something inside me that yearned to put my own words out there into the world. The desire to create and communicate was too much to be kept inside.
So I wrote and wrote, creating my own stories and devouring everyone else’s. Over time, this love for words expanded, leading me to look at their power in other areas like diplomacy, leadership, and language learning. I became an English teacher, started this website, and got my Master’s and TEFL certification in the same year, all to share this enthusiasm for language and help others in the process. Yet there was something missing.
In hindsight, it feels obvious that this should have been my focus from the beginning. However, Dreaming Upwards’ past lives have shaped what it is today, and I am happy for the journey that I’ve had with the website. My commitment to students and educators will absolutely still be part of my mission with this website, just in a different way.
Now, I am excited to announce that Dreaming Upwards will be a home for everything related to storytelling. This will include:
- Book reviews
- Resources and explanations for educators and students regarding literature, writing, and ESL
- Cultural explorations
- Tips and reflections on language learning
- Articles and information about the humanities
- College success advice, although less often
- Personal pieces
And so much more!
With that being said, Dreaming Upwards, like all of us, will evolve. It will focus a little less on college and career advice and a little more on everything related to words, from resources for students and educators to personal essays. What will remain is the same optimistic spirit, commitment to helping others achieve their dreams, and desire to make the world a better place.
So enjoy, and I hope you’re as excited about this new chapter as I am!
