Click To Reveal The Dreams Of These Fearless Americans
And we’re not talking about sleeping.
HuffPost Partner Studio
Presented by American Family Insurance
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As children, we’re told that a dream is a wish your heart makes. We later learn this is anatomically inaccurate, of course, but it’s beautiful inspiration nonetheless. And adults would be well-served by keeping dreams closer to their hearts and thinking of them as possibilities, not wishes. We far too often relegate the pursuits that make us who we are to some of the furthest recesses in our minds, instead fixating on the mundane and practical because it’s simply easier. Also known as? Life.
But it doesn’t have to be. In partnership with American Family Insurance, we asked an array of Americans to tell us about the dreams they’re pursuing, and we found one common thread in their replies: People can be really wonderful.
Below, click to reveal what we heard when we asked: What’s your dream?
The Williams Family, Atlanta, Ga. Michael, 27, creative director in music publishing, Anastasia, 31, singer/songwriter, Amariah, 6, and Karen, 4
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Michal Rzepecki
“[Our dream for our daughters is] for them just to be everything they want to be,” says Michael. “We want to be able to give them a platform so that they can do anything in life, you know? If they wanted to be a great musician, a great singer, the best writer -- whatever they want to do -- go to college, whatever. We want to provide that for them.”
Romi Oppenheim, 17, student, Chicago, Ill.
Michal Rzepecki
“I want to be a pediatric surgeon,” Oppenheimer says. “Kids have so much time left. They’re so special in the fact that they’re kind of new to the world. They’re a blank canvas, they don’t know much. Giving them the ability to extend that is just amazing.”
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Jennifer Lane Mandle, 43, communications coordinator, and daughter Sophia Toapha, 10
Michal Rzepecki
“I’m really excited my daughter can live better than I did,” J. Lane says. “The expansion of women’s rights … her reality is a lot different than my reality. She gets to dream much bigger than I did as a little girl.”
RaeAnn Rumery, English teacher, and husband Kent Nancollas, self-employed, Phoenix, Ariz.
Michal Rzepecki
“We’ve done so much,” Kent says. “Continue to travel. [We want to go to] Antarctica, Italy, Switzerland … . It’s [all about] experiencing the culture and people of the world, and seeing so many wonderful places.”
Thomas Carpenter, 48, attorney, Grove City, Ohio
Michal Rzepecki
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“My dream is to live in a world that is kinder,” Carpenter says. “A world where there’s fundamental decency in our culture. Online bullying would go away. People just need to be more kind to one another. I think that’s something we’re just losing sight of, and it’s so important.”
Brooke Tibbs, web series producer, Pueblo West, Colo.
Michal Rzepecki
“When pursuing your dreams, it’s OK to step back and reevaluate what you want now, versus what you wanted five years ago,” says Tibbs. “This is your one life, so you should be enjoying it. My dream is to work in the creative field, and make projects that come from my truth, and also balance a family life.”
American Family Insurance believes that every dream - and dreamer - deserves support. It’s why we’re so passionate about going far beyond insurance to inspire, protect and restore your dreams.
