Did you ever look up to someone and think, “I want to be like that person when I grow up?” I never did. Clearly, there were the usually heroes and celebrities which inspired me, but there was not one person, or one professional who I aspired to be.
The closest of them was Edmond Dantes, a fictional character in the Count of Monte Cristo, who avenges those who wronged his family and protects those who treated them well. What moved me most about Edmond was his ability to completely reinvent himself as the Count of Monte Cristo, and throughout his life live beautifully and fully in the characters he created.
Today someone gave me the advice to think about who I wanted to become. That got me thinking about Edmond Dantes, and it’s why I am sharing this with you. Do you think about who you want to become 5 years from now, or 10? Are you the person you imagined you would be 5 years ago?
This makes me remember that John Milton poem, “When I consider how my light is spent,”
A Life of Wonder 
Edmond Dantes isn’t someone I want to become as he only prevailed and shone after his downfall arranged by others. Avenges was his nature to become success. He reinvented himself in the dark, and finally his true goal of happiness is the girl next to his side all the long journey. Before the unfortunate circumstances, he was a simple sailor with simple dream but happy; afterwards he came to be bitter about life though successful. It’s true somehow that we always value people who accomplished from mishap, but it only should be value not admire.
The whole question of who you will become in the future is always a fail question though employed by many job interviewers. The question should be what is your primary goal in the 5 or 10 years. We or at least I overrated many figures because of circumstances; life is unpredictable and ridiculously incalculable. As for myself, the vision I saw myself in the future 5 years ago somehow went too far away than ever. I failed in calculation and found myself still happy and hopeful as ever, as I’m taking a different path compared to the previous destination.
Though, of course, I do admire Edmond’s great accomplishment. I’m an Alexandre Dumas’ fan.
I do envy the time Dantes spent in prison learning an entire liberal arts education through intense lectures from a brilliant man, the same many who turned him into the count of Monte Cristo.
In terms of primary goal, do you feel like you’ve set one for yourself? How specific is it?
Best,
Zachary