Dreaming Big: Insights from My 8th Grade Diary
- May 3
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
As we all know by now, I'm a writer. Lucky for anyone reading this today, my 8th grade diary is alive and well and a personal treasure. Sometimes I read it to see if I can feel a wisp of that innocence. Other times I pick it up to time warp back to when my parents were alive and death felt like something that only happened to characters in a book.
But mostly I read it for laughs.
Behold.
December 21, 1980
Dear Diary,
Oh boy! Our "group" went out Christmas caroling tonight and then came back to my house for hot chocolate. We were frozen stiff. We sort of had a party and didn't it was great. David was here this time and it was number 3 kiss. I loved it even though he kissed me right in front of everybody else. I died! I made a General Hospital collage on cardboard it is nice. I danced slow with David once. I loved it! He is so cute. My mom even thinks so. My new song is Let me Be Your Agent. It is so good. My new word is "also". My mom danced for all of my friends. She is so good! She teaches me how to dance. I decided I want to be a dance teacher, a model and an opera star. I like opera a lot even though my friends think I'm really weird. I don't care! I just can't wait till Christmas I really hope I get the Idolmaker album and Empire Strikes Back dolls. Well.
Love,
Kath
Calling myself Kath was one of my many attempts at pulling away from the childhood me...Kathleen Mary...and becoming my own person. It happened again on my first day at West Chester University when I intentionally wrote the name Kate on the dry erase message board attached to my dorm room door. I still go by Kate to this day.
That 46-year-old diary entry truly captures me. My passion for things I Ioved. Dreaming big. My confidence to be who I wanted to be. However, I am not currently a dance teacher who models and sings opera. But you know what I still am?
A dreamer.
And my dreams have never shied away from the stars. My brain can cook up some outrageously exciting scenarios for me to reach for and work towards.
Who's with me? Anyone else out there working towards a dream?
I might have been at that caroling party? I know I was in the group. And I definitely remember that picture! Such cherished memories. You are an inspiration! Keep inspiring our youth. They desperately need you.
Cheers!