Are You Chasing a Dream, or Just Running from a Deadline?
By Stella Violet
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I’m in the final stages of my college journey, and instead of enjoying my last few months as a college student, I’m freaking out.
I’m told to “follow my dreams” and to “work harder” but somewhere along the way, the line between chasing a dream and simply running from a deadline has blurred.
Am I truly pursuing passion, or am I just sprinting to keep up with an expectation I didn’t even set for myself?
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The modern world equates movement with progress. If you’re constantly working, you’re doing something right – right? But sometimes, movement is just that: motion with no direction.
We set goals because we think we should. We chase job opportunities, scholarly milestones, and personal achievements without pausing to ask why?
Who are we doing this for? Is this what we actually want, or just what looks good on paper?
Deadlines, both literal and self-imposed, can become the driving force of our ambition. We tell ourselves, I have to reach this milestone by 30, or I need to have my dream job in five years. But are these deadlines pushing us toward fulfillment, or just pushing us?
The other day, my friend showed me a video in class about micro influencers after I had made a joke about being one myself.
That video quickly became one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.
It was a man at a conference in France talking about how regardless of how many followers you or your business has, you’ll always find your audience. And it made me think about dreams and what they are built on, passion.
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A dream must be fueled by passion, it’s something we pursue because it ignites something deep inside us. A deadline, however, is often dictated by external forces: societal norms, family expectations, or a need for validation.
The two can easily be confused. If you’re working on a goal and the only thing keeping you going is the fear of failure or falling behind, is it really your dream – or just a task on a never-ending to-do list.
We don’t often stop to reassess because stopping feels like failing. Slowing down invites doubt. What if I realize I don’t actually want what I’ve been chasing? What if I have to start over?
These fears keep us running. But stillness–pausing to reflect–is not stagnation. It’s clarity. It’s in these moments of stillness that we can ask ourselves: Does this dream still belong to me? Do I even recognize myself in this pursuit anymore?
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Whenever I try to pause and figure out what I actually want, I panic. What if I realize I’ve been running in the wrong direction this whole time? What if I let people down? What if I fall behind while everyone else moves forward?
But then I wonder – what if slowing down is exactly what I need to figure out whether I’m chasing something meaningful, or just running on autopilot.
At 21, I look at celebrities who have accomplished what once were my hopes and dreams at such a young age, and I feel absolutely crushed.
Could that have been me if I wasn’t so scared to share my passions earlier? Would I even be good enough?
I think about the “what ifs” more than I should probably admit, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize my accomplishments, which I should 100% do more.
Whether it’s graduation, a new job, or maybe just getting out of bed in the morning, it’s something we should all be celebrating more.
So, maybe I’m not making six figures in my early twenties but I’m working towards so many things I’ve been wanting since birth.
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However, I’m no longer interested in deadlines.
I’m interested in putting myself out there, sharing my ideas and finding people I can connect with… on my own time.
There will always be someone “better,” “shinier,” “cooler,” but if that’s what holds you back from chasing your dreams then maybe you just don’t want it enough.
