My choice of book is "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho.

This is the story of a shepherd boy, Santiago who had a dream. The dream was about a treasure located in the pyramid of Egypt. He was determined to get to the pyramid and get the treasure.

In his journey to the pyramid, he faced a myriad of challenges. In each of such experiences, he was resilient. It got to a point that he wanted to return home. He got motivated by the words of a king; "when you pursue your calling, the universe will work with you to make it happen." He realized that the two options before him are succumbing to fear or taking risks. He decided to take risks against finding comfort in fears.

He faced multiple obstacles. He learned to commune with nature and speak its language. This made him aware that there is life everywhere and that life would guide him to his treasure. At the final lap of his tortuous journey to the pyramid, he was kidnapped and threatened to be killed with his alchemist companion by tribal warriors. He was left with an option to transform into wind and he was able to recall all the wisdoms he gathered along the journey and went deeply into conversation with the wind, the sun and the power of the universe to help. Haven learned how to speak universal language and penetrate the spiritual realm, the universe helped him. It happened because he believed it could happen and the universe helped him achieve it. He arrived at a dune, where he believed that the treasure was. He dug and found nothing. Some wanderers came to rob him and after telling them about his mission, one of the wanderers told him of how he had a dream about a treasure in an abandoned church in Spain but wasn't foolish to crisscross the world because of a mere dream. Santiago believed that that's the location of the treasure and went back to the church where the journey began and found the treasure.

I read this book in my first year in University. In my third year, I had an experience where the book helped me to overcome some setbacks and get going. I lost my dad a few months earlier and going through with my education was becoming difficult.

Acquiring a degree was my dream. In order to achieve this, I had to face the risk just like Santiago faced his. There was a day that I was penniless and I decided to go and work for two days in a construction site. My job was to carry bricks from a distance of some meters to the point where they are being laid. I never did such work but I decided to stand up to my challenges. After doing the work and getting paid the first day, I developed severe fatigue and sickness and I spent more than 90% of the money on medication to get well.

I nearly gave up but I remember how Santiago faced obstacles and he overcame them because he believed it was possible to do so. I went to the site after recovering and this time around, I didn't spend the proceeds on medication. I faced my fear of dropping out of school squarely and I conquered it. I drew strength from the journey of Santiago that was filled with a mirage of challenges.

I graduated from university and getting a job became a problem. Since then till present, the book helps me look beyond my comfort zone at the course of my life journey.

My favorite quote is as follows;

"Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. It’s the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one ‘dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.’"

Each step that I take in life, I learn lessons and believe that things may be getting difficult as I get closer to my dream. I dare not give up at this point.

I once farmed in order to raise some capital to go into investment but I was robbed of the money. I nearly broke down but I was convinced that I was close to my dream.

This has helped me and still helps me to break bounds and actualize my dreams. I commune with the universe about my desires and I believe that the universe would help to actualize them.