Our passions - Part 2

Following Jamie, the discussion continued.

By now, everyone let out their scarce fear that retained within and expressed what they love to do in the future.

It became interesting to chat and get motivated together at that age. Seth's plan worked well as he saw those gleaming faces shine brightly.

'Everyone is doing great.' – Seth thought.

"That sounds great, Annie; a detective sounds so cool," one of the kids praised his classmate, Annie, who revealed her dream to be the greatest Detective.

"That is great, but Detectives in the movies are very different from real life. I hope you get enough exposure and knowledge of the world you want to enter. By the way, Annie- your father is working in the police department, right?" Seth inquired.

Annie nodded.

"Then, I guess you can get a lot of help in terms of getting there," Seth remarked.

"Annie, the detective sounds very cool. Best wishes, Annie. Go catch those criminals and-"

Seth paused.

"You will be protecting us from the bad guys, I guess," he announced.

Instantaneous gasps heard across the walls.

"Woah, Annie, the protector of our city!"

"All hail, Annie; the female Sherlock Holmes!!!"

"Annie! Annie! Annie!"

The guys turned into a cheering squad as they supported Annie's dream.

Annie sat down, passing down the torch to Samuel.

Samuel is the average student. He scores a little above the average and maintains stable conduct.

"It's Samuel, hey Sam, tell us what's your dream?" a classmate shouted from the other side.

Samuel did not pay any attention. He concentrated at Seth for a few seconds profoundly.

"Mr. Seth, I only want to get a job and live a normal life."

"Frankly, I don't understand why you are doing this in the first place. I mean, I get it that you want to motivate the ones who have a dream to achieve, but I think most of us-"

Samuel paused, taking a glance at his classmates.

"There are also people like me who wish to live a peaceful, normal life and not go on a crazy, adventurous journey."

He finished and sat down in a swift.

His opinion dropped the rising mood inside the classroom. At once, the kids looked stumped, not being able to respond.

Samuel's words were valid as well if you consider the people who don't necessarily have a specific goal to achieve in their lifetime and solely hope to live a peaceful life without any regrets.

"Woah, Sam, don't you think that you sound a little harsh. We're only asked to share our dreams. Why do you have to be a downer?"

"Am I being a downer or natural?" Samuel countered.

"I am only saying that you all are thinking that everyone has some weird dreams to achieve. Look at the reality, not all want to become a detective or a singer or a designer or an actor," he added.

"But, passion is what drives you to live your life fullest, Samuel," Seth intervened.

Samuel and the kids stopped arguing. They all looked at Seth.

The other kids appealed to Seth for Samuel's mood-ruining speech.

"Everyone stop arguing. Samuel is right, don't you think?" Seth spoke.

"What he said is indeed true, but Samuel- Sam, right?" Seth eyed.

Samuel listened.

"Sam, I think everybody in this world is capable of becoming something special if they work hard and nourish their curiosities, don't you think so?"

Seth threw the ball at Samuel, intending to inspire the student to develop a passion in his life.

As much as Seth wants everyone to live their life without any regrets, he also noticed Samuel's lack of interest in any area might make him regret his decision later.

"We humans can achieve anything as long as we set our wits to it."

"Living a normal life is also a dream. I am not discouraging you."

"All I'm trying to say is that young plants like you should find the gifted potential that is hiding within yourself and try to harvest it. As much as living a normal life seems appealing and that dreams like being a singer or an actor, or a veterinarian are not crazy too."

"Take me for an example, from your perspective- I'm simply a high school teacher. However, to me, this is my passion. I want to be there for the kids who are at their primal time of growing and exploring. If I can help you find your destiny or encourage you to pursue your dream and make you all a better person, then that is my accomplishment."

Seth concluded his thoughts and waited for Samuel to react.

As expected, his words of wisdom stirred Samuel's regular grimace. The boy appeared to be in a loss of words to respond.

"May I ask what do you like to do when you're free?" Seth pushed his luck for one last time.

Samuel thought about it for a while and then answered.

"I draw," Samuel replied.

"See? Haven't you thought of becoming an artist?" Seth suggested.

"Artist? But that is not a steady job," Samuel replied.

Seth frowned slightly from his response, but he dared not to reveal it to him and retained his composed face.

"Well, I'm not sure if you want to become an artist. However, I can say this: the moment when you get truly inspired is the moment you go crazy. You will become one of us then," Seth expressed.

"Until then, maybe go with the flow because passion can happen at any time, any age in a human's life. It is the moment and your mentality that will help you to either chase after it or think that it's too late to try."

Seth's words slapped the average boy pensively as he did not reply. Meanwhile, the other kids cheered and praised Seth for his wisdom.

Though his words were meant to attack a single soul, it awakened a lot of thought for the others as well. A few of those seem to get moved from his word of advice.

"Sam," Seth called despite the loud cheering.

"Don't think that you are normal. You do have something special laying dormant inside. Tap it, and keep it burning. That will drive you to places that you won't even imagine."

"The satisfaction of accomplishing feels very good, and I want you to experience that. Until then, feel free to explore the things around you."

Samuel's nod was diligent and full of respect.

Seth returned to hushing the overpowering noise.

It became tranquil once again.

"I can't leave you guys for a minute, and you all go make some noise already."

"Let's keep this going, now," he announced.

Like this, the students returned to talk about their future.

….

"I'm not sure of what position I would take up, but I'm interested in working in the fashion industry, Mr. Seth," Anna spoke as it came to her turn.

"Hmm… that suits you too. I like your attitude because you are not particular yet, you know what intrigues you, very well, keep going, Anna. I'm rooting for you. My best wishes for you to succeed in your career," Seth supported Anna with his encouraging words.

"Wow, Diego wants to study Economics, Anna is interested in Fashion, I wonder what will Lillian Grey say," a random comment heard across the room.

Ignoring it, Seth continued with the activity.

…

"Next up, Lillian Grey, I'm surprised that you aren't distracted today," Seth called out.

Lillian Grey hissed lightly from his subtle remark.

Standing up lazily, Lillian Grey looked at those eyes glaring at her eagerly.

"Mr. Seth, I don't have a dream right now."

Her words caused everyone to sigh in disappointment.

"We have another bummer here," Seth commented.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Seth. I'm still exploring," Lillian quoted, stressing every word to enunciate to stop detailing further down the lane.

"Sit down, Lillian Grey," Seth exhaled while instructing the girl to take her seat.

Lillian listened.

"Alright, we're not going to leave you like this. Now, tell me, what do you like to do in your free time?" Seth asked.

As if it is a counseling session, Seth spoke to her comfortably while the other kids watched them in utter silence.

"I like reading novels," Lillian answered.

"BINGO!" Seth raged in satisfaction.

"Why don't you write a book?" he added.

The silence intensified.

Everyone sat on the edges of their seats while grinding their teeth in anticipation as if watching a melodrama.

Lillian thought for a while and then instantly agreed.

"That was fast, what made you agree to soon?" Seth questioned.

"No-" Lillian started but hesitated.

She glanced at the side and watched Giselle. They both locked on eyes; Giselle instantly retracted her gaze as if lightening got struck.

Lillian Grey's heart sulked from the girl's reaction. The twinge she felt it hard inside, and it ached more than anything.

'She is still avoiding me!' - Lillian thought.

"Ms. Grey?" Seth kept repeating until Lillian Grey reacted.

"You were saying what made you accept it so fast?" Seth helped her continue talking.

"Yeah, No- but someone wanted- more like wished for me to write a book one day. So, maybe I'll become a novelist," Lillian revealed, exactly knowing who wished for that; Giselle.

//

Giselle's gift to Lillian Grey included a hand-written note that said- she hoped to read Lillian Grey's book one day.

//

Ever since reading that note, Lillian got inspired about being a novelist. It is in her lane, and the thought of creating a story intrigues her. However, she wasn't able to finalize that it is her career plan to become an author.

Now faced with such a question, also, told by Seth, Lillian Grey realized it might be her destiny.

..

"Make sure you buy my books and read it, Mr. Seth," Lillian added.

No one spoke against it. It all happened so fast that there wasn't time to react.

Seth quickly agreed instead of dragging the conversation. Subtly, he could see the tension between Lillian Grey and Giselle, who is surprisingly not being herself today.

"What are you going to write, Lillian?" a question popped up.

"Horror, thriller, action maybe; she likes those things," an answer presented itself.

"What about a romance novel?" – One of the girls asked.

"Romance, no way she can't write cheesy stuff," another one replied.

Soon, it turned into a debate- whether Lillian Grey can write Romance Novels or not!

Lillian Grey patiently watched them judge her skill, which she hasn't discerned yet.

"Alright, calm down," she yelled at once to stop this irrelevant discussion.

"See she agrees to it,"

"No way, you heard it wrong,"

"I'm correct,"

"Exactly!" Lillian quietly walked into their debate, which didn't stop even after her yelling.

"See, I told you, didn't I?" one noted.

"I'm going to write a romance novel!" Lillian quoted.

At once, no matter what side the others chose, everyone froze together.

"WHAT?" they sounded in the chorus.

Seth waited patiently for the kids to stop by themselves. Watching them argue needlessly, he had to step in once again.

"Alright, that is her wish, and let's all wait until she finishes."

"Keep working on it, Lillian Grey. Best wishes."

Seth concluded the topic and moved on.

Next up was Giselle, Seth hissed within, thinking about how troublesome for Giselle to follow Lillian Grey immediately.

Sighing to himself, he stood up from the desk and walked moved around a bit to stretch his long gone numb legs.

"Tell us about your dream, Giselle," Seth announced.

Giselle hesitated. All of her classmates knew about her secret when it got aired. Including the Bridgette, even the gossip girls focused on her.

With everybody's attention on her, Giselle sweated at first. She felt fear, and deep down, it tried to stop her from speaking out. Still, the spirit of her voice wanted to scream and yell out loud.

Struggling and battling to herself, Giselle finally decided to listen to her voice.

She began to speak.

"I wish society could not ostracize people like me."

"I wish people to stop calling me with names."

"I wish there is no bullying people like me."

"I wish to be treated equally."

"I wish people could understand me."

"I wish people would accept me." - Giselle's voice cracked while sprouting these words that she kept it to herself for years.

By now, the expression on everyone's face changed from anxious to guilt.

A pang of guilt that all shared knowingly or unknowingly.

So far, Giselle lived her high school life in silence, and this is the first moment she spoke.

Listening to her wishes, everyone felt ashamed deep down. Dared not to show it out, but it still prevailed inside everyone.

Nonetheless, Giselle kept going for it.

All while she spoke, her gaze fixed straight ahead. However, before delivering her final wish, she peeped at the person sitting next to her: Lillian Grey.

Grey was shocked with her eyes grew wild, as it pierced back at Giselle.

..

Stuttering to herself, Giselle blew her final words.

"It is alright if I don't get any of those wishes come true. Nevertheless, My only dream in this world is-"

She paused, heavily considering if she should say it out loud or not.

"My wish is- to be with the one that loves me dearly."

Giselle ended.

The usual chattering that follows after every reveal did not happen.

Everyone stayed quiet. Seth was left speechless too. He did not expect Giselle, the girl who preferred silence to be bold and loud for once.