International Tutors' Magazine April 2019 | Page 19

APRIL 2019
HONORABLE MENTION
LIVING A DREAM
BY CHIU CHING MAN
When I first laid eyes on you, I could barely see what you looked like through the blur of
tears. I hardly minded though, because the moment you entered the world, I knew you
were beautiful.
You were a sweet child. Still are, in fact. Your eyes held innocence, and your smile melted
even the hardest of hearts. I love you. I hope you know that.
As you continued to age, I shifted from one thing to another. Any exposure you had, had a
chance of changing your mind. One moment you wanted to be a teacher, another moment
you'd want to be a doctor. So full of potential, so full of adventure. It was charming, truly.
You made up your mind a few years later. During class, you had gotten bored, eyes focused
on anything but the exercise. As you looked around, something drew your attention.
The classmate besides you was paying just as much attention as you were, but instead of
wandering, his gaze was focused on his notebook, hand expertly skirting across the page.
Your eyes widen as you realized what he was doing. It was a drawing, so realistic that it
could have been mistaken for a photograph. As you picked up your pencil and exercise
booklet, I knew that I had changed permanently. You had found your goal.
People have a strange concept they call talent, thinking that the ones that have it succeed
and the ones that don't fail. But I don't believe in talent. You worked hard. You practiced
with passion and determination, looking up references and studying theories. Others may
have seen how beautiful your work was, but not the work you poured into it. You'd come a
long way in a short period of time, it filled me with pride.
Peace didn't last long. It was time to choose your electives. It was clear which one you set
your sight on, but your parents...they objected. Since you started drawing, your grades
weren't doing too well. More of your time went into making art and less time studying.
It was the cost you had willingly paid, but they did not see its worth, asking you to put it
away, to focus on the important things. They told you that art wasn't practical in the real
world.
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