Dreams had a funny way of evolving.
Akutu had always known what she wanted—graduate with honors, secure a prestigious job, and make her family proud.
But lately, something inside her had shifted.
It wasn't that she no longer wanted success.
It was that her definition of success was changing.
It started when she attended a guest lecture on international development.
The speaker, a former diplomat, spoke passionately about policies that changed lives, about how one decision could shape the future of an entire community.
Akutu found herself leaning forward, hanging onto every word.
When the session ended, she stayed behind to ask questions.
"What inspired you to take this path?" she asked.
The woman smiled. "I realized that I didn't just want a career. I wanted a purpose."
That night, Akutu lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
A purpose.
She had always thought success meant landing a high-paying job.
But what if it meant more?
What if she could use her education to create change, to impact lives, to matter in a way that went beyond personal achievement?
She felt something stirring inside her—something new.
Something she didn't quite understand yet.
But she knew one thing for certain—
The dreams she had when she first arrived were no longer the same.
She was dreaming bigger now.
The pulleys of life had shifted once again.