Five years. That’s how long it took to get to the foot of the four steps leading to the arena’s stage. It would take another 45 seconds to walk the next 20 yards. And then she’d have it in her hand. Her college diploma. The piece of paper that represented all the hard work she had poured into her dream. A dream that no one else in her family had ever dreamt. She took a breath and felt the butterflies flutter around her stomach like vultures. Why was she nervous? No one in the stadium had earned this honor more than her. She paused and thought about the words the commencement speaker had said.
The world is empty without dreams.
What he failed to say was that sometimes it is hard to lasso those dreams. To get them down on paper. And then to break them into manageable steps. Oh, don’t forget having the actual courage to pursue them. How many of her friends lived in their little comfortable worlds, not wanting to better themselves? They wanted to be entertained. Amused. Complaining about your situation was much easier than doing something about it.
That last sentence was her five years ago. Single mother. No child-support. Dead-end job. “Would you like fries with that?” She corrected herself. Every job is noble if you work hard at it. But she knew that she would not be able to provide the kind of life her son deserved unless something changed. She gripped the rail and prepared to take the first step. Just like she had five years ago.
His name was Chip. He wore a suit and had a nice smile. The right side of his face was scarred but that didn’t make him unattractive. His personality made up for it anyway. He came in the same time every morning and bought a cup of black coffee. She always tried to get him to get something to eat, but he’d never bite. Just coffee. She loved how he always managed to get in her line.
The first few days it was nothing but small talk. Nice weather. Thank goodness it is Friday. Their conversations were like a water bug sliding across the water’s surface. But as time went, doors opened. He had a natural way of getting her to do something she normally hated: To talk about herself.
“What is your dream?
His question hit like an atomic blast. First of all, it was personal. Who did he think he was? And second of all, she’d have to admit she wasn’t living it. Failure in any form is hard to admit. She told him, “To be a writer.”
He smiled and said, “Then write.”
Ha ha. How easy was that for him to say? She had a child. She had bills. She had 1,000 other excuses. She had no education.
Morning after morning, Chip would by his coffee and leave behind a tip. Not the monetary kind (although it would have been nice.). Chip gave her seeds to plant to grow the crop of her new life. A number of a guidance counselor at the community college. A website for scholarships. A friend at the local newspaper who was looking for freelance writers. A book on time management. A ticket to hear a motivational speaker who specialized in goal setting. The encouragement to pursue these new leads. Who was this guy named Chip? And why was he being so nice?
Five years of getting up early to write and going to bed late after homework wore her out. She still managed to work and schedule her classes. Every morning Chip came in for coffee and left encouragement. And every morning she looked forward to seeing him.
She took another step up to the stage and then another. Then she heard her name called. “Anna Johnson Frier.” Soon it was followed by the word, “Valedictorian.”
Anna Johnson Frier, a 4.0 student, walked to the podium and looked out in the crowd. “Five years ago, I had a dream. But it took someone who believed in me to help me make that dream come true. Be that someone in someone else’s life. Be an encourager. People talk about changing the world. That’s how it is done — one person at the time. I know my world was changed. I’d like to thank my parents. My son. And my new husband, Chip Frier. The kindest man I’ve ever met. And the person who believed in me when other people just wanted coffee.”
From that point, she walked another 10 yards, took her diploma, left the stage and completed her five-year journey. Tassels were turned and confetti fell. The Class of 2012 entered the world to make it a better place.
On the ride home that night, Anna said, “Chip, why did you help me so much?”
“I thought you were cute.”
“No really,” she asked with a more serious tone.
He felt the scar on his face and started to tell her what he never had before. “Nine years ago, I worked at the same fast-food restaurant you did. I had been burned in an accident and felt like I was never going to make it in the world. And then an older gentleman came in and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Over time, I listened. And when I crossed the stage with my business degree, he was sitting in the audience. His last words of advice to me were to pay it forward. To find someone else and encourage them with no expectation of reward. ”
“But you did get a reward. You got me.”
Both laughed.
“Hey, I have an idea. Let’s go get coffee.” Anna said while gripping her diploma. “I know a great fast-food restaurant that’s right down the street.”
