What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Growing up, my father was always my anchor, yet he was the wind that pushed me forward. He had this unwavering belief in the power of dreams, not just as fleeting fantasies, but as the compass to guide one’s life. He’d often sit me down during quiet moments, his voice steady and warm, like the hum of a gentle engine. “You have to chase what sets your heart on fire,” he would say, “because no one else can do it for you.”

He believed in hard work, but he also believed in the kind of work that made your soul come alive. “The world will tell you to play it safe,” he’d warn. “But if you spend your life afraid of falling, you’ll never know how high you can climb.”

When I doubted myself, wondering if I was capable enough to chase the big dreams I held inside, my father never let me shrink back. “Failure isn’t something to fear,” he’d remind me, leaning in with those wise eyes of his. “Failure means you’re trying, you’re growing. It’s a sign that you’re on the right path, not the wrong one.”

His words stayed with me through every challenge—every time I hesitated to leap, every time I fell. He’d be there, either in person or in my mind, reminding me that life’s greatest rewards lie just beyond the bounds of fear. “Dreams are meant to be pursued,” he’d say with a gentle nudge. “Even if the road is tough, that’s how you know it’s worth it.”

It wasn’t just his words, though—it was his actions. I saw how he lived, how he relentlessly pursued his own passions, even when life threw its hardest punches. His resilience wasn’t just a lesson, it was a beacon. He wasn’t afraid to try, wasn’t afraid to fail, and because of that, he wasn’t afraid to succeed.

And so, I carry his voice with me, always urging me forward.