Catapult yourself into the future into any career or life you can imagine. Describe it in full detail. Now, consider what prevents you from making that dream a reality? In that future ideal world, describe a typical day for yourself. Imagine people you meet, things you do, how you live. Be both descriptive and chronological.

July 11, 2025

Week 8

Journal begin July 9, 2025. 6:05 a.m.

If I could launch myself into the future and land in my dream life, I would be living as a successful international humanitarian lawyer, working for the United Nations or a major nonprofit like Amnesty International. My focus would be on defending human rights, advocating for displaced people, and holding governments accountable for injustices. I would travel between global cities Geneva, The Hague, Nairobi, New York using my voice and legal knowledge to bring change, justice, and peace to places that desperately need it.

In the future, I will live in a sleek, minimalist apartment overlooking Lake Geneva. The air is crisp and clean. My home is decorated with mementos from countries I’ve served in a carved bowl from Kenya, a woven shawl from Peru, and black-and-white photographs from refugee camps in Lebanon and Bangladesh. My closet is full of tailored blazers, comfortable flats, and a passport with so many stamps it’s nearly full.

A typical day begins at 6:30 a.m. I rise to the gentle chime of my smart alarm clock. After a quick run along the lake and a breakfast of coffee, fruit, and toast, I review my day’s schedule a Zoom call with human rights activists in Myanmar, a press conference with journalists in Brussels, and a legal strategy meeting at the UN headquarters.

By 9 a.m., I’m on the phone, translating legal arguments into accessible terms for victims of war crimes. I interview witnesses, draft urgent motions, and meet with a team of international attorneys. Around noon, I break for lunch at a cafe with a colleague from Nigeria we share stories about our work and laugh about how fast paced everything is. The afternoon is filled with legal hearings, writing articles for human rights journals, and making strategic decisions about global cases.

Evenings are quieter. I return home around 7 p.m., make dinner, then settle in with a book or a video call with my family. Sometimes I walk by the lake and reflect on the people I’ve helped and the systems we’ve challenged. I feel tired but deeply fulfilled.

Yet, what stands between me, and this dream isn’t just time it’s self-doubt, fear of failure, and the weight of financial barriers. Law school is expensive. Global legal work is competitive. I sometimes worry that I’m not strong enough to face the heartbreak that comes with fighting injustice every day. But reflecting on my Week 7 writing, I remember that even the most powerful voices began somewhere small. I have passion, drive, and moral compass. What I need is consistent effort, support, and belief in my purpose.

This vision fuels me. It reminds me that while the path may be hard, it is not impossible. Every paper I write, every challenge I overcome, every conversation I have that deepens my understanding all of it pulls me closer to that future. And one day, I won’t be imagining that life I’ll be living it.

Journal end July 9, 2025. 9:13 a.m.