Even before I finished school, I already knew what I wanted to do with my life after graduation. My first dream was not about buying cars, traveling the world, or living a flashy life. My dream was about home.
I grew up in a face-me-I-face-you house where many families shared the same compound. That was the house my parents raised us in, and till today, they are still living there. Growing up in that environment was not easy, especially during the rainy season. Whenever it rained, everything became stressful. The kitchen and bathroom were outside, so going out in the rain to cook or bathe was always uncomfortable. Privacy was limited, convenience was far away, and comfort was something we only imagined.
While I was still in school, I used to think deeply about this. I told myself that once I finished school and got a good job that would pay me well, the first major thing I would do was to start saving money to renovate my parents’ house. I wanted to change it from a face-me-I-face-you to a comfortable flat. I wanted my parents to be able to cook, bathe, and do everything inside their own space without stepping outside. I wanted them to enjoy the comfort they had denied themselves while raising us.
That dream stayed very close to my heart throughout my school days. Anytime I thought about my future, that was the picture I saw my parents living in a renovated, decent, and comfortable home because of me.
However, life after school did not go exactly as I planned. Getting a good job that pays well has not been as easy as I imagined while I was still a student. Responsibilities came. Bills came. Reality came. Things I never thought about started demanding attention. The money I hoped to start saving immediately was now going into survival and daily needs.
Sometimes, I feel discouraged when I remember that dream. Sometimes, I wish things had worked out faster. Sometimes, I look at the house and wish I could wave a magic wand and change everything immediately for my parents.
But one thing I have not done is give up. I still hold that dream strongly in my heart. I still believe that one day, I will make enough money to renovate that house. I still believe that my parents will live in a comfortable flat where they will not have to step outside in the rain to use the kitchen or bathroom. I still believe that God will make it possible for me.
That dream may have been delayed by life, circumstances, and challenges, but it is not dead. It is still alive inside me, and it still pushes me to keep striving for better. Because for me, success is not complete until my parents are comfortable in their own home. I am inviting 
