Like a rainbow walking over me, Happiness embraces me! I’ve always thought that everybody accepts and supports each other as they pursue dreams like graduating college. Just imagine talking to a friend about how you want to earn a bachelors degree, but that person is not really interested. Instead, this friend sarcastically says, “Oh, good for you” or questions why you would even want to go to college since that is only for nerds.

Monday, June 11th, 2021, I finally had the courage to tell my friend group that I had started my own small business of selling handmade jewelry. I was as excited as a unicorn eating too much cotton candy! It finally hit lunch time — my big spotlight to announce the huge news. I nudged my friend on the shoulder to tell him to project that I had something to say. I burst with excitement while making my announcement. Yet, all they said was “Okay,” and don’t get me started on how their facial expressions looked like the Grinch! My brain and body walked into the fog of disappointment as I wondered how my friend group could just shrug their shoulders in lack of support or pride in my accomplishment.

When I told my mom what happened, she gave me the best advice I’ve gotten in my whole life: “Not everybody will accept or support your big dreams or goals, and that’s okay.” From that day on, I promised myself to keep moving on no matter what other people think because at the end of the day, my biggest supporters are myself and my mom!