Jude was a young man living in a small village. He wasn’t neither rich nor poor. Jude was brilliant. His teachers always said he didn’t belong in their cramped up town, his brain was bigger than the farms.
He had two options: either stay in the village to help his father in the farm or go to the city and pursue his dream as a doctor.
He got an admission to study in one of the prestigious schools in the city and since his results were so impressive, he was being sponsored by the school.
Jude was happy and so was his mother, but his father told him to reject the application, that there was no life in the city.
Jude wanted to leave to the city, wanted to see the big world people had talked about. Wanted to school, get a degree and become someone. But his father didn’t see a life for him there, he wanted him to take care of his farm. His mother was supportive, she wanted him to live his life the way he thinks is beneficial to him.
His father still thought of him as a child, wanted him to follow in his footstep but Jude didn’t want that life for himself. He could see himself doing great things and none of that included him working in a farm.
“This land is your future. You don’t need school, this farm fed me and your grandfather, it will feed you too.” He always said.
“I want to go to the city, mum. But what if I fail? That’ll only prove dad’s words to be right. I’m scared of failing.” His mother held his hand in her slightly wrinkled ones.
“I see the way you love books, son, think of what you really want. Imagine having two paths to choose from. One path is staying here to help your father with the farm, living up to his expectations. The other path is going to the city where you’ll have the chance to be what you truly want, and prove your father wrong.”
“But what about you? And who will take care of the farm if I go?”
“You worry too much, son. And there’s only one thing I want in this world, and that’s seeing you happy. Live your dreams, dear.”
After listening to his mother’s words, Jude decided to choose the second path, going to the city. It was big, everything he’d hoped for. And he was going to make it, he just knew it.
Five years later, Jude returned. His head high and shoulders broad. People ran after him with praise. Jude went to see his father at the farm where he was still working. Jude unzipped his bag and handed him the certificate.
“You left your home for paper.” His father stared at the paper like it was written in a foreign language. But his eyes softened upon seeing his son’s name written boldly on the paper.
Jude had graduated with a degree, he now had his own hospital in the city, and he was planning to build a local community clinic in the town as well.
Jude had proved him wrong, by becoming someone both in the city and…home.
…
Sometimes your parents won’t understand your dreams, because they don’t want change. But if you come back with good results, they’ll understand someday.
Choice is a powerful thing, which can shape our lives whether in the good or bad way. The choice is ours, but we must think of our options carefully before making decisions.
Image was generated using META AI