I've noticed when I speak to rural community schools that the level of excitement intensifies because many of these students haven't ever seen what they call "a real live famous author".

Mrs. Johnson coordinated the special event for both elementary schools. I heard from youngsters who wanted to be soldiers, fairy princesses, models, vets, fire fighters, and mothers some day.

And yet what touched me most was when I spoke to the students at Ainsworth one young girl whose eyes were polished with tears said, "Dr. Mullen. What if I don't have a special dream?"

How sad to think that with all our modern-day advances that there are children who still haven't received a vision or a calling of their own self-worth. I assured the young girl that a dream would soon reveal itself to her and for her to always believe in dreams.

And then one astute child remarked, "What if I don't have a big dream like Erin's?" (My daughter, Erin, was fortunate to have lived out her dream playing as a champion baseball player and is in Cooperstown Hall of Fame.) I told the young girl that life is made up of small dreams and then when we succeed at these tiny dreams then bigger dreams are likely to follow. She smiled with enthusiasm knowing this.

Helping children strive for their dreams will help them gain the necessary discipline they'll need to succeed in education. Committing early in life to a dream will normally lead to educational success as a child's dream develops and grows.

I hope to one day visit Ainsworth again to see if this sad little girl has finally discovered her calling. I want to see her happy smile finally knowing her future is bright.