Have you ever stumbled across a journal entry, essay, or something else of the sort, that you wrote earlier in your life that discusses your future dreams, plans, or ambitions?

Well, if you ever have, I think you would agree that whether your predictions were way off or right on, it is quite interesting to see what has become of yourself since then.

This morning, as I was sorting through my collection of sports magazines, personal essays, past assignments, etc., I came across a paper I wrote five years ago for eighth grade english class. The assignment was to write a 5 page paper on your past experiences, current ambitions, and future goals. When the teacher assigned it, I decided I was going to take it a couple steps futher. I wanted to create a personal essay that I would be able to read later in my life and reflect. I wanted it to be a barometer of how different or similar reality would turn out to be from my fantasies at that time in my life.

To my surprise, life hasn't been all too much different so far from how I envisioned it when I was in eighth grade. Here is one of the chapters of the paper:

"Chapter 6: Preparing for the Climax of My Song

In the long run, I'm planning on going to college four to six years for engineering right after I graduate from high school. After college, hopefully, (and I'm praying) American Idol will still be on TV and very popular so I can get a chance to compete on the show. So far the show has been on four years, and it gets more popular each week.

If I don't make it as a singer, I'd like to be an engineer or help children with special needs. They have minds of their own and most people don't realize how special each one is. They're all intelligent, just in a different way. It's a way we find hard to comprehend. That's what amazes me. I believe they're smarter than us in some ways, and we are smarter than them in others.

One thing I will always remember no matter what is to stay true to my roots. I will always remember where I've come from and how my mom has been my biggest supporter. I hope to live my life to the fullest. When I'm gone from this world, I want to know that I've changed at least one person's life, even if it was in the smallest way.

I was introduced to my song on February 8, 1990. I still have a lot of challenging notes ahead. I don't know how they will sound, but I can't wait to find out where they lead me."

Of course, some things have transpired differently. Instead of going to college for engineering, I'm enrolled in an architecture program. However, the program is joint with civil engineer students, so I wasn't too far off. It amazes me that when I was in eighth grade, I already had a pretty good idea of what was going to be my major in college. And the fact that my major is going to take five years to complete fits right in the 4-6 year period I figured.

Before I decided to go to college for architecture, I almost went to become a special needs teacher. The only reason I'm in architecture is because I decided I would make my money while I'm young and if I still want to become a teacher later in life, I can go back and financially support another college degree and afford to take a pay cut to help others.

I also ended up trying out for American Idol like I wanted. Although I did it before enrolling in college, I'm happy I did because I have the experience under my belt of how the audition process really works off-camera, and if I decide to try again within the next few years, I will be much more prepared.

Best of all, I'm still singing.