My name is Rina, and I’m a 13-year-old middle school student in a small town in Japan. I love hanging out with my friends, especially after school when we stay in the classroom to talk. Last week, our teacher gave us a project: write about our dreams for the future. After class, my friends and I stayed to talk about it. There were five of us: me, my best friend Kaito, our classmate Saki, Kaito’s neighbor Haru, and Saki’s cousin Yuna. Our conversation was so exciting, full of big ideas and funny moments. Let me share what happened, so you can feel like you were there with us.
It was a warm afternoon, and the classroom was quiet. The sun came through the windows, making patterns on the desks. We sat in a circle, eating snacks we brought—rice crackers and candy. Saki started the conversation. “Okay, what’s your dream for the future?” she asked, looking at us with her big eyes. “I want to be an astronaut!” she said, before anyone else could answer.
“An astronaut?” Kaito said, laughing. “That’s cool! Why do you want to go to space?” Saki smiled. “I love stars. At night, I look at the sky and wonder what’s out there. I want to visit the Moon or maybe Mars. I saw a movie about astronauts, and they were so brave. I want to float in space and see Earth from far away. Also, my dad says space exploration helps us learn about our planet.”
I nodded. “That’s amazing, Saki. But isn’t it scary? Space is so big, and you’re alone up there.” Saki thought for a moment. “Maybe a little scary. But I think it’s worth it. I want to be part of something big, like discovering new planets. What’s your dream, Rina?”
I blushed because I wasn’t sure. “I want to be a writer,” I said quietly. “I love reading books, especially stories about adventure and magic. I want to write my own books someday, so people can feel happy or excited when they read them. My mom reads my stories, and she says I’m good, but I need to practice more.”
Haru clapped his hands. “That’s awesome, Rina! You could write about Saki going to space!” We all laughed. “My dream is to be a chef,” he said. “I love cooking with my grandma. She makes the best ramen, and I want to learn her secrets. I want to open a restaurant and make food that makes people smile. Maybe I’ll cook for astronauts one day!”
Yuna giggled. “Food in space? That sounds fun! I want to be a veterinarian. I love animals, especially dogs and cats. My dog, Taro, got sick last year, and the vet helped him get better. I want to help animals like that. I also want to work at an animal shelter to find homes for stray pets. Animals don’t have a voice, so I want to be their voice.”
Kaito leaned back in his chair. “You’re all so cool. My dream is to be a soccer player. I play on our school team, and I love running with the ball. My hero is a player named Messi. He’s so fast and smart. I want to play in big stadiums and make my family proud. But I know it’s hard. I need to practice every day.”
Saki tilted her head. “Soccer is great, Kaito, but what if you get hurt? Don’t you need another plan?” Kaito frowned. “Yeah, I think about that. If soccer doesn’t work, maybe I’ll be a coach or a sports teacher. I just want to be around soccer. What about you, Yuna? Being a vet sounds hard too. Don’t you get sad when animals don’t get better?”
Yuna nodded. “Sometimes I worry about that. But I think helping animals will make me happy, even if it’s sad sometimes. My mom says doing what you love is worth it. What do you think, Haru? Is cooking hard?” Haru grinned. “It’s not easy! Last week, I burned a cake, and my sister laughed at me. But I love trying new recipes. My grandma says mistakes help you learn. I want to travel and learn about food from other countries, like Italian pizza or Indian curry.”
I smiled. “That sounds delicious, Haru. I’d read a book about a chef like you. Maybe I’ll write one!” Everyone laughed again. I asked, “What makes your dreams special to you?”
Saki looked at the ceiling. “For me, being an astronaut is about exploring. My dad took me to a planetarium, and I felt so small but excited. I want to see things nobody has seen before. It’s like being an explorer in the old days, but in space.”
Kaito kicked a crumpled paper like a soccer ball. “Soccer is my dream because it makes me free. When I play, I forget my worries. My dad says I’m good, but I need to work hard. I want to show kids like me that they can dream big.”
Yuna hugged her knees. “Animals are my dream because they’re so kind. My dog Taro always knows when I’m sad and stays with me. I want to give that love back to animals. Also, my little brother wants a cat, so I need to learn how to take care of it!”
Haru ate a rice cracker. “Cooking is special because it brings people together. My family eats dinner together, and we talk and laugh. I want to make food that makes people feel like they’re home, even if they’re far away.”
I thought about my dream. “Writing is special because I can create new worlds. When I read, I go on adventures without leaving my room. I want to give that feeling to others. Also, my grandpa was a poet, and I want to make him proud.”
Saki looked at us. “It’s cool how our dreams are different but all about helping or creating something. But what if we fail? I’m scared I won’t be smart enough for space.”
Kaito nodded. “I worry about that too. What if I’m not good enough for soccer? But my coach says hard work is more important than talent. I think we just need to try.”
Yuna agreed. “My vet said she failed a test once, but she kept studying. Now she saves animals. Maybe failing is okay if we keep going.”
Haru laughed. “I fail in the kitchen all the time! Burned rice, salty soup—you name it. But my grandma says every mistake teaches you something. I think we’ll be okay if we don’t give up.”
I felt better hearing that. “I’m scared my stories won’t be good enough. But my mom says writing is like planting a seed—it takes time to grow. I’ll keep writing, even if it’s hard.”
We talked more, and Saki asked, “What’s the first step to your dream?” Kaito said, “I’ll practice soccer every day and join a better team next year.” Yuna said, “I’ll volunteer at an animal shelter this summer to learn more.” Haru said, “I’m taking a cooking class with my grandma next month.” I said, “I’ll start a journal and write a story every week.” Saki smiled. “I’ll study math and science harder to be ready for astronaut training.”
As the sun set, the classroom glowed orange. We ate the last of our snacks and made a pact: we’d support each other’s dreams, no matter what. Kaito said, “Let’s meet in ten years and see who’s an astronaut, a soccer star, a vet, a chef, or a writer!” We all laughed and agreed.
That night, I lay in bed and thought about our dreams. They’re so different, but they’re all about making the world better. Saki wants to explore space, Kaito wants to inspire with soccer, Yuna wants to help animals, Haru wants to feed people, and I want to tell stories. I felt excited and a little scared, but mostly hopeful. Our dreams are like stars—far away, but we can reach them if we try.