And when you are really good at what you do, you have to take things a step further and create some opportunities, as Andie has done. Don’t wait for fate to tap you on the shoulder – be lucky!

So… the bottom line is, it’s OK to dream. Dreaming is what lifts us up above all the ordinary, humdrum stuff – it gives us something to aim for, something to work for. It’s a little bit of magic in our everyday lives because it’s the way we begin to create our future.

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that dreaming is a waste of time… dare to dream, and dream big. Then follow that dream, and work hard to make it happen! There are no guarantees, but if it’s something that matters to you, you’ll never regret going after it.

And sometimes, if you’re lucky, dreams really can come true.

Helpbox

Read It…

• How to be a Pop Star by David Orme (Trailblazers)
• Careers Uncovered: Art and Design by Emma Caprez (Trotman)
• Careers Uncovered: Performing Arts by Dee Pilgrim (Trotman)
• How to be a Brilliant Writer by Jenny Alexander (A & C Black)

Read It…

• www.stagecoach.co.uk – part-time theatre arts schools for children/teens with an interest in acting/dancing/singing
• www.themusicplace.co.uk – inspirational learning/summer schools for all aspects of music www.connexions-direct.com – choosing Year Nine options, quizzes, info on career choices
• www.kidzworld.com – check out the WORK IT section for a cool careers quiz

9. Family Matters

When I was little, our school reading books had bright, pretty pics of the perfect family inside. The dad always wore a suit, drove a shiny car and raked the leaves in the garden on a Sunday, wearing a hand-knitted cardigan. The mum wore a checked apron and red lipstick, and baked cakes and arranged flowers, while looking calm and serene. The brothers and sisters were always neatly turned out, polite and smiling. Even the dog and the cat were too good to be true.

Life wasn’t like that for me. My dad worked long hours and often came home streaked with paint and oil, driving a rusting old heap tied together with string. My mum rushed around like a whirlwind, minus the apron, and cake-making was not her strong point. My little brother was rarely tidy or polite, although he did smile a lot. When we finally got a dog it turned out to be slightly nuts, and our cat was a psychopath.

The truth is, families come in all shapes and sizes.

They might not always include a mum, dad, brother, sister and cuddly pet dog… perhaps it’s just you and your dad, like in Dizzy, or maybe you’re in a foster family like Paul from Driftwood. Perhaps you live with your mum and grandparents, like Jude in Sundae Girl, or find yourself coping with a new stepmum and stepsister, like Scarlett.

Families are never perfect. They are stressy, strict, embarrassing, infuriating. They make your life more complicated than ever. Sometimes, they drive you crazy, but still, they are your family, and you love them, most of the time at least. It makes sense to learn to live with them.