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Keep Your Dream

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying:

“I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.”

“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.”

“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.'”

“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?'”

“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.'”

“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.

He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.'”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000-square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.”

He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, the teacher said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.'”

“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”

– Author Unknown

{ 187 comments… add one }
  • Merlan September 9, 2013, 5:56 am

    It was really a very awesome story. I was really being touched by those words of encouragement….

  • Shrey Selot September 9, 2013, 3:26 am

    Very effective… Make own dream and own choice . .!

  • Rue September 2, 2013, 6:14 am

    Thank you soo much.

  • Vinodha August 23, 2013, 8:41 am

    Motivating

  • Shekhar August 8, 2013, 9:39 am

    Man is successful to complete his dream when his dream comes from the heart and dream is aim of his life. Does’t matter of any problem come on his life he just easily throws the problem outside from the aim and became complete in him.

  • Rainer Proksch August 6, 2013, 7:33 am

    Really an inspiring story. Dreams are the steps to our success. If we live for our dreams and never go away from, we will definitely be able to achieve it. One thing that I would like to say here is that, we should always respect and encourage someone’s dream and goal and never discourage them. Teachers should always teach students on how to be able to reach their goals, not to discourage them.

  • Kaupa July 8, 2013, 2:51 am

    Very Inspiring..

  • Ghazal June 30, 2013, 3:21 pm

    I really agree with Jane because I’m possible said I’m possible 🙂

    The Dreams Came True

  • Akash June 28, 2013, 11:27 pm

    Nice one, thanks for sharing 🙂

  • Uffort Solomon June 15, 2013, 11:06 pm

    This is one of the greatest stories have ever read. Very inspiring and encouraging. We must be our dreams intact, to avoid dream stealers and killers.

  • Kshitiz June 7, 2013, 9:07 am

    Following a dream is a tough task as we get so many hurdles in between but if we are motivated we can achieve it.

  • Kaunish Roy May 7, 2013, 12:23 pm

    Dreams is all we got true in our mind. The rest is just 21st century breakdown copy style.

  • Pure pearl April 24, 2013, 9:24 am

    There is no one can steel our dreams when we believe in our dreams.

  • Pradeep March 28, 2013, 1:01 am

    In a single line to say “it’s simply superb!!!”

    I like the one man: God, how much is a million years? God: To me it’s one minute. Man: God how much is a million dollars? God: To me it’s a penny. Man: Give me a penny. God: wait for a minute.

  • Dr Peerzada Ashraf March 22, 2013, 10:52 pm

    It’s just awesome to read stories like that in adverse situations of life…they just help somehow to keep u in d track and inspire u to add more vigor and zest in ur efforts for the fulfillment of dreams of life….

  • Jiiya March 2, 2013, 3:44 am

    It is really an inspiring story, I liked it.

  • Shreedhar.n February 22, 2013, 8:56 am

    Everyone says it’s a story which inspired but it’s really a great feel.

  • Ghanshyam Joshi February 20, 2013, 9:28 am

    This is really an inspirational story…
    After reading this whole story… i came in a conclusion that our teachers are the dream stealer…. 😛
    I liked it too much.

  • Anthony Magtoto February 13, 2013, 4:57 am

    That was a nice story 🙂

  • Sumera February 10, 2013, 12:58 am

    It is a really nice and inspirational story.

  • Victor January 27, 2013, 10:50 am

    Never underestimate the power of dreams.

  • Vinothkannan January 24, 2013, 1:46 am

    Really an inspiring one.

  • Rupali January 23, 2013, 1:56 pm

    Thanks for reinforcing my faith in dreams..

    Keep writing..!

  • Prasad January 7, 2013, 9:57 am

    It’s a really beautiful story….

  • Roxan December 28, 2012, 6:43 am

    It’s really inspiring…I’ll keep my dream no matter what! God will lead my way through out…….

  • ♥Charm♥ December 20, 2012, 6:56 pm

    It’s an excellent story to keep our DREAMS and make them COME TRUE.

  • Rani December 18, 2012, 7:56 am

    Really a great story!!

  • Eva Suzuki December 14, 2012, 4:07 am

    This is a wonderful story, particularly in these very challenging economic times. Thank you for posting it.

    ~ Eva

  • Nishant December 12, 2012, 12:43 pm

    Best thing about this site is the people who comment are inspiring the others by their comments. Keep the good work on….

  • Aachanta December 12, 2012, 5:13 am

    Dear team, you are doing an excellent job please keep it up….apart from the main story I would like to specially appreciate the comments from “The Singer (#104)” and “Carlos (#115)” even their stories are faith building and inspiring…

    God always gives us a choice to select a course of action in thought, word and deed it is we with ignorance tread on the not so good path…we shall hold on to this particular thought and pray to god to lead us in a way that is best suited and pleasant for our lives….

    Regards,
    Aachanta

  • Anuj December 8, 2012, 2:32 pm

    One of the best stories I have read today. Not only story of a boy but also singer’s comment with excellent feedback by everyone. May God fulfil wills of all of us.

  • Ashwini Anand December 7, 2012, 1:28 pm

    Really a great story!!

  • Krishna December 1, 2012, 7:17 am

    This is really an inspiring story!.. “Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.” This line caught my attention. Don’t be discouraged by what other people think and say. What’s more important is your happiness though sometimes you are facing some difficulties/trials in achieving it. Don’t worry, it will be your strengths to push more ..and be successful in your life.

  • Carlos November 15, 2012, 1:58 am

    I have a dream of becoming a great seafarer but my family questioned my capability and there I told myself to challenge them, to show to them and to the world what I’ve got.

    I am a small person, every school that I entered to I’ve never experienced to be the second smallest, but always the first. Many of my classmates laughed at me when stand at the center of the class. They would always ask me “Are you really our classmates?” after that question was happiness to them. I ran to the backdoor and there I cried but I wanted to be strong I didn’t want to be weak, so I got up and walked to my seat embarrassed and from then on I never cried again.

    Years passed, at last I graduated from high school, and their my parents asked me what course I will take, I answered them marine, I want to be a great seafarer. Then my mother replied, “Are you not tired of dreaming nothing, when will you stop, when will you wake up?” Then, I ran into my room but that time I did not cry.

    After a few days I heard a humor concerning about scholarship for a marine student. I did not waste my time and I supposedly take the exam but later I knew that they require a height to their cadets.

    The captain looked at me and asked, “Do you really want to be a marine engineer?”

    I said sure, since a child it has been my dream but….. ok don’t worry I’ll choose you as my cadet. I have seen determination within you and I really want to have cadets like that.

    I was shocked, “Really sir? Thanks a lot.”

    Until I got home I still wonder how I got the scholarship. The captain was a gift from heaven he didn’t even looked me, at my size and my height and from then on I learned that it takes determination and perseverance to achieve everything you want as they say, “if there’s a will, there’s a way”.

  • Carlos November 15, 2012, 1:33 am

    This was a great story, leaving a great mark in the readers heart and soul. We could not deny the fact that sometimes even our teachers belittle our capabilities but this doesn’t mean that we should stop dreaming. Make the IMPOSSIBLE.

    I’m POSSIBLE. Thank you very much for the inspiration that I have garnered from the story.

  • U V SAI SWAROOP November 9, 2012, 4:35 am

    This is an excellent story for Adolescents. It will surely help him by not giving up his own GOLDEN DREAMS.

  • Maryam November 4, 2012, 8:25 am

    Where there is a wish, your life will make difrence but when there is belief, life is just in a way that you wished.

  • Sandhya October 22, 2012, 10:27 pm

    Excellent moral

  • Suman Majumder October 21, 2012, 8:32 am

    Greet story

  • Maryam October 18, 2012, 3:11 am

    Never better. I just was impressed. It caused to make my dreams again and again. Thanks a millions.

  • Henry Chiedozie O October 10, 2012, 10:31 am

    A great lesson to me

  • Faith Tomaquin October 10, 2012, 4:31 am

    —- what a great story!!!
    —- one of the moral lesson is dont let those people who possessed a small mind and heart to convinced you that your dreams are too big for you. Because as long as you believe on it and had a dedication to do there’s always a way to come it realistic.

  • Denim Fitch Delvaux October 2, 2012, 6:14 am

    The Singer, You touched my life. Thank you for sharing your story. This is something I should take as a reminder, most of the time I’m anxious of my goals. The people around me tends to get me on the brink of failure. I always lose hope. And I did not know what to do, and almost give up but I always think of the people who believe in me tho they are a few still there is someone who do believes I can. Thank You The Singer.

  • Denim Fitch Delvaux October 2, 2012, 6:05 am

    I don’t know what to feel esp for the teacher, but I think if it wasn’t because of the teacher Monty will never be able to be as strong as he is to achieve what he wanted. This is Amazing! I salute Monty for not giving up or losing hope and believing in himself that he can make it despite of his teacher looking of haughty disdain about his dream.

  • The Singer September 23, 2012, 9:49 am

    My Dream!

    I dream of becoming a famous singer/songwriter and incorporate my piano playing into my music.

    One of my closest friends, who was going to become a doctor because her father was one and she had always dreamed of helping others, told me that my dream would be almost impossible to achieve. That it was unrealistic and I might need to reconsider goals.

    I was angry for days. 

    But deep down I believed her to be right. So the next day, I called her up on my cell phone and forgave her. I told her I agreed with her and should probably give up my dream for a different one. She apologized for hurting me. She said that she still believes my dream is almost impossible to achieve.

    I simply smiled sadly even though she couldn’t see me. I quietly replied, “I know.”
    She then said that she had to go but she would call me later. 

    I had lost my phone the following day.
    By the time I had found it I had a voicemail. 
    It was her.
    I pressed play.

    Her voice resonated through the small speakers with seriousness , “I’m not sure when you’ll get this message, but you need to hear it. I have to tell you something. You know… almost impossible isn’t impossible. Your dream is unrealistic, but so is your talent. If anyone can dream that dream it’s you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a back up plan.” she sighed, “This world is big and filled with cruel people. You might feel hurt. You might feel alone. And you might feel lost. But that only means you should try harder. I didn’t want you to get hurt in the future, but that’s how we achieve our dreams. Through hard work and pain. That’s why I said ALMOST impossible, because really? If we can travel to the moon, the sky isn’t the limit anymore. And if the sky isn’t the limit…Then what is? You can do anything if you take it on one step at a time. See you on Monday.”

    I was so happy when I saw her the next day that I tackle hugged her on sight.

    But that was a little over a year and a half ago.

    My highschool graduation was last year, but my friend wasn’t there.
    She died a month before graduation because of a car accident with a drunk driver.
    She had never fulfilled her dreams. 
    If she had lived she would have been class valedictorian.

    I visit her grave every month and tell her what’s going on in the life she left behind. I tell her about my dreams and how I’m getting closer to my goal. In fact just last week I recieved an invitation to join a band as the vocalist and keyboardist.

    Today I went to her grave again.
    And I told her what had happened.

    I’m achieving my dream.
    One step at a time.

  • sippy September 18, 2012, 11:28 am

    I like to repeat :“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”.

  • Shaik Abdul Irshad September 18, 2012, 11:45 am

    It’s an astonishing story, it’s really good this type of story is very helpful to mule people. Why? Because I am also like that person. Now a days I try to read these kind of stories to motivate myself.

    Thank u for keeping this type of stories in website… I will try to give my best in the outside of the environment and overcome all my fables, panics, stress and I will try to reach my goal.

  • Anil Rithik September 8, 2012, 5:20 am

    If you had a dream just do it, otherwise don’t dream….

  • Sachin September 4, 2012, 4:56 am

    I think many of us don’t open our dreams to teachers but to our friends and then from them comes big “NO, it is impossible”. Then we should say, “YOU CAN KEEP THE ‘NO’, I WILL KEEP MY DREAM.” 🙂

  • Rachna August 24, 2012, 5:20 am

    I can do anything…………………

  • Sukhwinder Singh August 21, 2012, 5:08 am

    One day I will fullfil my dreams.

  • Harish M August 21, 2012, 2:23 am

    Superb story……thank you so much…

  • Binal August 10, 2012, 2:22 am

    It’s a really very inspiring story for me… Reading this story I realize the important of my dream & get inspiration to achieve my dream… thank you God.

  • Clare August 3, 2012, 2:12 pm

    This is very inspiring. True enough, reality bites! But this one is a remarkable story that truly inspires.

  • Selvaa July 31, 2012, 9:14 pm

    Fantastic and motivational tale.

  • Bhakti July 30, 2012, 10:22 pm

    Really awesome…..!!!

    I like the moral…… “Don’t let anyone steal your dream.”

  • Khalid Shaikh July 19, 2012, 12:03 am

    Amazing

  • Kshitija July 17, 2012, 10:42 am

    What a beautiful moral the story has… I liked it. If someone says something about our dreams which will lower our confidence, let them say, after all they will not make our future, it is in our hands…

  • Sathya July 17, 2012, 2:01 am

    I like this story very much and I will convert my dream in to reality someday.

  • Princeabu July 12, 2012, 8:11 pm

    This is really a great story, So inspiring. I am a deaf boy of 21 yrs of age. People keep saying: prince, “u can’t become a computer scientist coz u have a hearing problem” I have been doubting this sinse then bt thank God 4 this story. I will persuade my drm no matter what n i pray God will help me 2 change the world.

  • Shalini July 12, 2012, 11:06 am

    This is very inspirational story to those who believe a person not having money will fail to achieve his goal. Only n fully efforts are required to make your dreams come true.

  • ZANDREY July 7, 2012, 11:56 pm

    It was a very touching story that can make people encourage to pursue their dreams in life!

    Just don’t think that it is impossible, don’t be a negative person. Everything is possible. Be positive! because the impossible thing can be made possible!

    Remember, do something that no one has done before.

  • Hardik July 7, 2012, 4:29 am

    I like these stories very much and I wish I will convert my dream in to reality someday.

  • Annie June 27, 2012, 6:23 am

    This story is really awesome. This helps me a lot as I do have a dream of becoming an IAS officer but I was very shy to express to any but now I have the confidence.

  • Tilak June 18, 2012, 6:18 am

    Nice story……never give up your goal and what an ending….a good realisation for every teacher……thank u for the story.

  • Sujit Dutta June 7, 2012, 12:08 pm

    Great story.. it’s easy to say no for many ppl.. but not for me.. managed to sail the boat in direction I wished till now.. Thx for inspiration.

  • SNEHA June 2, 2012, 6:58 am

    It is really an inspirational story of life…

  • Manoj June 1, 2012, 10:42 am

    It’s a wonderful story. It inspired me a lot. I think people who love themselves and their dreams will love this story…

  • Deepak May 25, 2012, 4:46 am

    A great story with an awesome moral.. loved it!!!!

  • pralaya May 24, 2012, 11:23 pm

    This story will help me to achieve my goal which is not accepted by my family yet By taking inspiration from this story I have feeled very great for my skill and my dream….

  • Neelam May 24, 2012, 8:38 am

    Awsmmmm…:)

  • Vijaya May 21, 2012, 1:18 am

    Mind blowing….sheer determination indeed.

  • Bishwajit May 17, 2012, 1:17 am

    I motivate while learning this story, actually I also have a dream and I still continue to get that dream so don’t give your dream to other ……..

  • EKTA May 15, 2012, 4:47 am

    It is a very good story with a powerful moral.

  • VB Nain May 13, 2012, 2:30 am

    This story gives me a lot of strength. I have learned more from this story and I try to keep the motive of this story in my life.

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