The Road to Dream
Let’s be honest here. Covid-19 has changed the world as we know it. Probably more than anyone ever could’ve anticipated. Everyone is going through some of the hardest times in their lives. Harder than anything they have ever had to endure. My story plays a part in the madness.
Last May I finally graduated college in audio engineering. My life long goal of working on music for the rest of my life took a big step that day. Over that summer I worked 40-50 hour weeks and saved every penny. My dream was to move to Los Angeles (pretty typical right?). Being from Ohio, LA was pretty far fetched for anyone out here, including me. However, nearly eight months go by of working long hours, keeping my head down, and staying focused. It had paid off. I had the momentum I needed to make the 2400 mile drive to the place I had always imagined myself working.
The road trip was beautiful, yet brutal. 2400 miles is a lot for anyone to handle over a 3 day span. A few hours in, I was starting to feel quite ill. I thought to myself, this has to be car sickness, nervousness, or just simply sadness of leaving the life and family I had always known. Instead I ended up having flu-like symptoms during the duration of the drive, and it didn’t get any better. Thankfully I didn’t have Covid-19. But I did have a double ear infection along with a sinus infection. Nothing life threatening, but something you don’t want to deal with when you're driving 12 hours a day in states you’ve never been to. As we reached the state of California, the elevation did not help my situation, as it causes heavy pain to an infected sinus region. It made the last 8 hour leg of the trip almost unbearable. But I got there. I had finally gotten to the place I had dreamed of for nearly fifteen years. Life slowed down for me in that moment. I took a look around my surroundings and just smiled. I was here.
The very next day Tragedy struck. Quarantine across the country had been announced. All work had been paused. Sports had been canceled. The world as we knew it ceased to exist it seemed like. It felt as if my entire trip that was supposed to be the start of my adulthood, had just stopped. Canceled itself. Vanished. The first thing I told myself was to be thankful my family and I were okay. My infections that lasted a month seemed more like a gift than a curse at this point. Being tested for Covid was terrifying, but relieved to have been tested negative. That being said, the world had stopped functioning, and I was across the country from everyone I knew and loved. The true feeling of bittersweet. I was and still am determined to make this dream a reality despite the road blocks.
That all leads us to now. Businesses have slowly started operation again, but a long road to recovery was looming in the distance. The first thing I am doing Post-Quarantine/Covid-19 is, catching a flight back home to see family. I don't know about you, but this pandemic truly makes me realize how much I have to be thankful for. I need to see my family again. I want to tell them how much I love them and how thankful I am for their fight, love, and support. My aunt is currently going through cancer. As we all know that’s as tough as it gets. My dad was diagnosed with parkinsons as well. For a while he could barely move. It’s so hard to see your dad who’s barley 50 act like he’s 80. But he is a fighter. And a believer that the best is yet to come. During my first week of moving away, my grandpa attempted suicide. A long battle of health and loneliness had left him hurting more than ever. Thankfully he’s making a decent recovery. I took all of this as a sign. So much pain, negativity, and sadness has circled my family for years now, but somehow, some way, they all remain positive. They all fight. It is truly inspiring to see how such a negative situation whether it’s regular day health, or covid-19 simply can’t stop the hope and faith for better days to come.
All of my family's recent trauma is the exact reason why the dream for me becomes real again. I have a job as a manager for an upcoming artist in London England. My music collective group consists of artists from Orange County, Columbus Ohio, Coventry England, and Helsinki Finland. Music is beautiful that way. Doesn’t matter where you’re from. Music can be the connection we all need. Not to mention in a time like this.
I’ve been working on my dream since I was fourteen. 24/7 thoughts of anxiety, and excitement rushed through my veins for what the future may hold. My family has been through so much these last few years. This whole world has. Now more than ever. Their fight for health and happiness is what keeps me afloat. I want to succeed. I want to love what I do. I can’t wait to make my dreams come true Post-Quarantine not for me, but for them. They’re stronger than I could ever be. And my ultimate goal after all of this is to give back. I cannot wait to give back to everyone in my circle. They’re ready for bliss, and peace, and I could not be more excited to work towards giving that to them.
About the Creator
Drake Toth
I am an Audio Engineer, and music manager from Columbus Ohio, now living in LA. Writing has always been a passion for me. I love to create. Any art of any kind to me is beautiful.
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“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khan6 days ago in Motivation
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