Ch-8Kaveri
Class 9
Class 9
Class 9 · English (Kaveri) · Chapter 8
Follow That Dream
Short & colourful notes — letter + poem, ek hi jagah!
1. Chapter at a Glance
1995the letter is dated 19 June
10years of focused effort
2voices: a mother, a poet
4stanzas in the poem
Prose: “Follow That Dream” — a letter written by a mother (Mum) to her teenage daughter Ming, taken from the collection My Daughter, My Friend by Irene Chua.
Poem: “Believe in Yourself” by Robert Langley — the first step is the hardest, but self-belief carries you forward.
Bonus poem: “Always Believe in Yourself” by Dorothy Hewitt.
2. Theme / Central Idea
- Dreams need more than wishing. Passion must be backed by effort, sacrifice and years of time.
- Count the cost, then commit. A wise dreamer first checks the price of the dream — and then plunges in fully.
- Dreams may change, and that is fine. New dreams are as valuable as the old ones.
- Poem’s idea: Growth begins the moment you step out of your comfort zone and believe in yourself.
3. About the Text & the Writer
- The chapter is an excerpt — one letter from a whole collection of letters called My Daughter, My Friend.
- The writer Irene Chua shares her deepest thoughts as a mother and gives her daughter insights into life, preparing her for its challenges.
- The letters celebrate the special bond between a mother and her teenage daughter — she is a friend as much as a parent.
- Ming had evidently written to her mother about a dream she wanted to chase. The reply opens with full support: “By all means follow that dream.”
4. What Makes People Great
19 June 1995 · Dear Ming…
Great men and women become great because they have a dream and pursue it till it comes true.
What separates greatness from the ordinary is not talent alone — it is how much effort and sacrifice a person is willing to invest in the dream.
5. The Ten-Year Rule
- To reach world-class standard in any field, one has to pursue the subject singularly (exclusively) and intensively for at least ten years.
- “Singularly” = nothing else divides your attention. “Intensively” = full energy, not casual practice.
- Simple meaning for us: shortcuts don’t create excellence — regular, focused practice over years does.
6. From Passion to Plunge
The mother describes the journey of a dream in four clear steps:
- Passion — it starts with a deep interest in one particular thing.
- Conviction — the strong belief that it is imperative (necessary) to realise it.
- Count the cost — years of effort, financial investment and sacrifice.
- Plunge — if it is still burning in your blood and you are ready to commit, throw yourself into it completely.
Any field will do
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Sports, science, arts, business or design — the process is the same everywhere.
7. The Uphill Road
- The road may be uphill most of the way — difficulty is normal, not a sign of failure.
- Often you are buoyed up (kept afloat) only by the knowledge that you are doing what you love best and doing the right thing. This is intrinsic motivation — it comes from inside.
- When stamina runs out, the prospect of success keeps you on track — the picture of the goal pulls you forward.
8. Nobody Wins Alone
- At the Academy Awards, the winner always thanks a host of people who formed his or her support network.
- So for one winner, there is a whole group of people who stood by them — family, teachers, friends, coaches.
- Lesson: a support network is a help, never a hurdle. Accepting help is part of achieving.
9. Why Dreams Remain Dreams
Almost everyone has wistfully (longingly) said, “I wish I could be this or the other” — but many never go beyond wishful thinking. The mother lists honest reasons:
| Reason | Example given in the letter |
|---|---|
| Chose safety | They preferred to trade their dream for security — a safe job instead of a risky passion |
| Circumstances changed | Some wanted to study at the then Raffles College (now the National University of Singapore), but the Japanese invasion during World War II changed their destiny forever |
| Family duty | Some wished to finish secondary school but had to go out to work so that they could support their siblings through school |
| No action | They never moved beyond mere daydreaming |
10. Not a Wet Blanket
The balance in her advice
She clearly says she is not going to put a wet blanket on Ming’s dreams (not going to spoil them) — but Ming must also consider the years she will need to chase the dream.
After all the obstacles are considered, if the burning conviction is still coursing through her veins, then she should go ahead and do something about it.
- This is encouragement + caution together — the mark of a wise parent.
- She uses questions and personal anecdotes instead of orders, so the advice feels like friendly guidance, not a lecture.
11. Dreams Can Change
- From her own experience: life itself may change a person’s dreams. Dreams are not static — they are dynamic and evolving.
- These new hopes and aspirations are no less valuable than the original dream of younger days.
- To fulfil them you must negotiate a path through a maze of hurdles — the journey is longer and more complicated.
- The dream takes much more time, and the people who are participants in your dreamscape (your world of dreams) become many more.
- Her own proof: publishing this book was a dream she chased for ten years. It was not her youthful dream — her original dream changed over the years — and she is quite excited about it.
- She closes warmly: she wishes at least one of Ming’s dreams comes true too. — Love, Mum
12. Tone & Style of the Letter
| Feature | How it shows in the letter |
|---|---|
| Form | A personal letter — date, salutation, body, “Love, Mum” |
| Tone | Optimistic and encouraging, yet practical and honest |
| Voice | Second person “you” — feels like a direct, warm conversation |
| Technique | Rhetorical questions, real-life examples, personal anecdote |
| Relationship | Mother as a friend and mentor, not a commander |
13. Values & Message
Use these in long answers
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- Perseverance — greatness needs years, not weeks.
- Realistic planning — count the cost before you begin.
- Gratitude — remember the people who hold you up.
- Flexibility — a changed dream is still a worthy dream.
- Parental support — guidance with freedom helps a child grow.
14. Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| insight | clear and deep understanding | singularly | exclusively, only on one thing |
| imperative | necessary, must be done | plunge | throw oneself into the activity |
| buoyed up | kept afloat, lifted in spirit | wistfully | longingly |
| dreamscape | a world of dreams | conviction | a strong belief |
| prospect | the chance or hope of something | stamina | strength to keep going |
| aspirations | strong hopes and ambitions | status quo | the existing state of affairs |
‘-scape’ family
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‘-scape’ means a view or scene of — landscape, seascape, cityscape, mindscape, dreamscape.
15. Idioms & Phrases
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| burn in your blood | to have a passionate desire |
| an uphill task | a tough challenge |
| buoyed up | lifted in spirit, encouraged |
| wishful thinking | a hopeful belief that is unlikely to come true |
| a wet blanket | a spoil-sport, someone who kills the fun |
| coursing through your veins | flowing strongly through your body |
| a maze of hurdles | a complex and challenging journey |
16. Grammar Corner
First conditional
Used for real or possible future situations. Sometimes the main clause is an imperative (advice/command) instead of “will + verb”.
If the burning conviction is still there, go ahead and do something about it.
Uses of ‘could’
| Function | Sense |
|---|---|
| Possibility | It could be in any field — sports, science, arts… |
| Unreal / hypothetical | “I wish I could be this or the other.” |
| Past possibility / speculation | They could have preferred to trade their dream for security. |
| Past ability or purpose | They worked so that they could support their siblings. |
Latin expressions used in English
etc. = and other things · e.g. = for example · ad hoc = for a specific, often temporary purpose · in media res = into the middle of things · per se = by itself · quid pro quo = a favour given in return for something.
↑ Back to contents17. Poem — “Believe in Yourself”
Poet: Robert Langley. Idea: change is frightening, comfort is tempting — but growth begins with one brave first step.
Stanza 1 — Step up to the challenge. There is no crowd watching you; the contest is only between you and the future you want. Facing a challenge is a personal responsibility.
Stanza 2 — Will the future pull you forward, or push you back in fear? When the future comes near, choices become difficult because of fear and uncertainty.
Stanza 3 — There is great ease in comfort and in keeping the status quo. But we are not made for that — this is not how we grow.
Stanza 4 — The first step is the hardest, and after it there is no turning back. You simply need to believe in yourself to keep your future on track.
18. Poetic Devices & Rhyme Scheme
| Point | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Rhyme scheme | a b c b in each stanza (see–be, fear–near, quo–grow, back–track) |
| Tone | Motivational and encouraging; it shifts from thoughtful at the start to determined at the end |
| Speaker | Not a distant stranger but a guide who understands the struggle and pushes you to take control of your own future |
| Direct address | The repeated “you” makes it feel like the poet is talking straight to the reader |
| Metaphor | “The first step is the hardest” — the ‘step’ is not a real stair but the beginning of any new challenge |
| Rhetorical question | “Will it pull you forward / or push you back in fear?” — no answer expected; it makes you reflect |
| Antithesis | ‘pull you forward’ vs ‘push you back’ — opposite ideas in a parallel structure, showing the tug-of-war between hope and fear |
| Imagery | “No crowd to see” = a lonely, individual journey; “push you back in fear” = the mental barrier that blocks growth |
Symbolism made simple
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Comfort / status quo = stagnation and fear of change (the comfort zone).
The future = the unknown, full of possibility, needing courage to enter.
The first step = the leap of faith that begins self-improvement.
19. Bonus Poem — Dorothy Hewitt
“Always Believe in Yourself” — given at the end of the chapter for extra reading.
- Always believe in yourself, do not limit yourself, and be kind to yourself.
- You already have all the intelligence and ability you need; you can attain whatever you are after — even if it does not come the way you expected.
- When you are tested beyond your endurance, continue and persist; hold on to courage and let laughter and encouragement surround you.
- The world has much to give — think big and keep your hands and heart open to receive life’s gifts.
20. Learning Beyond the Text
A vision board is a visual map of your goals and inspirations — pictures, words and symbols that keep you focused. Sections: My dreams · I want to try · Goals · Places I will go · Inspiration.
Parents who shaped great lives
- Jijabai instilled dharma, patriotism and justice in Chhatrapati Shivaji through tales from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Queen Madālasa nurtured in her children a deep understanding of the soul and detachment from material desires.
Indians who turned challenges into opportunities
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar — faced humiliation and discrimination at school, never gave up, studied Politics and Economics, and became Chairperson of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India.
- Lal Bahadur Shastri — lost his father at one and a half, walked miles barefoot to school, was titled “Shastri” (scholar) after graduating from Kashi Vidyapeeth, and rose to become Prime Minister of India.
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — delivered newspapers before dawn to support his schooling; learnt hard work and responsibility; became the ‘Missile Man of India’ and the 11th President of India.
21. Quick Revision in 5 Minutes
- The text is a letter dated 19 June 1995 from a mother to her daughter Ming, from My Daughter, My Friend by Irene Chua.
- Greatness = a dream + relentless pursuit + effort and sacrifice.
- World-class standard needs 10 years of singular, intensive pursuit.
- Order of the journey: passion → conviction → count the cost → plunge.
- The road is uphill; intrinsic joy and the prospect of success keep you going.
- Every winner has a support network (Academy Awards example).
- Dreams die from wishful thinking, choosing security, or changed circumstances.
- Mum is not a wet blanket — she encourages, but asks Ming to count the years.
- Life changes dreams; her own book was a 10-year dream, different from her youthful one.
- Poem “Believe in Yourself” (Robert Langley): rhyme scheme abcb, metaphor of the first step, antithesis of pull forward vs push back.
✍️ Notes by @edugrown — dream big, start today!