On Girlhood, Dreamchasing, and Healing Your Inner Child

Written by Zaynab Musleh

For girls everywhere, no matter the geographic location or socioeconomic status, a fundamental part of girlhood is fantasizing—you know, creating those fictional, yet scarily detailed and plot-driven scenarios in our heads of what life could really look like. If we take it back even further to childhood dreams and fantasies, our little (or big) imaginations, combined with just the right amount of hope, made anything and everything seem tangible. 

As a little girl, watching shows like H2O: Just Add Water made me yearn for mermaid powers. I wanted nothing more than to hold my breath underwater for copious amounts of time, water-bend, and communicate with marine life. As I grew a little older (and less delusional), I began to develop a passion for writing. My favorite film genre has always been romance, and it seemed like every romcom in the early 2000s had a female protagonist that was the stereotypical“ writer living in New York City.” I would be lying if I said those films didn’t instill a desire in me to become a writer one day. 

These fantasies look different for every girl, and whether it be by luck, hard work, or resilience, some of them ultimately turn into reality.  

Amiya, a 24-year-old based in Ohio, fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a model.“ This dream developed when I was around seven years old after watching America’s Next Top Model with my grandma,” she says. At the time, she wasn’t sure if becoming a model was in the cards for her.“ It seemed pretty unattainable. I was told that models had to be a certain height and weight which, looking back, was accurate for that time. Being only seven, it was a gamble whether or not I would grow up to meet the requirements.” 

All grown up, Amiya made sure to put in the necessary amount of work and research to get signed with an agency.“ There is an element of luck because I did grow up to be tall and thin,” she says.“ But in today’s world, models come in all shapes and sizes.” 

After working for some time, the 5’10” go-getter eventually found her niche within the industry.“ It’s true that my measurements are great for runway, but I found a passion for e-commerce and lifestyle modeling as opposed to high-fashion. I’ve met so many amazing people, been awarded once in a lifetime opportunities, and I—and my childhood self—feel very proud of the things I’ve accomplished.”

While some little girls are privileged enough to fantasize about being mermaids, fairies, or more realistically, their dream careers, others get hit with reality very early on. 

CJ, a 32-year-old based in North Carolina, had dreamt of being a mom since she was young.“ When I was ten, I realized I wanted to be a mom one day because my biological mom wasn’t very good at being a mother to me,” she says.“ My dad was also an alcoholic and drug user at the time.” CJ was put into foster care at the age of eight and, after lots of moving, was adopted at age 11.“ I told myself if I ever have a child, I don’t want them to experience anything that I have experienced throughout my life so far.” 

But, health issues, including severe complications with her menstrual cycle in her teen years, and a later diagnosis of PMOS (formally known as PCOS) after getting married, started to make CJ’s dream of motherhood feel less likely.“ The doctors told me I was going to have a hard time getting pregnant,” she says.“ I tried for over a year and was about to give up. After all of the trying and failing pregnancy tests over and over again, I felt helpless and that it was my fault, that I was the reason I couldn’t have a child…then it happened.” Despite it being deemed a high-risk pregnancy, CJ finally became a mother to a healthy baby at age 22. 

Alongside PMOS, she was later diagnosed with endometriosis at 31, requiring an oophorectomy (ovary removal surgery) to help treat her condition.“ Knowing that I’m unable to bear anymore children, I’m very thankful that I was able to have one child that has a healthy relationship with his mother, a child that is safe, loved and cared for all the time and feels wanted.” 

If there’s one thing 2026 can be credited for in relation to dreams coming true, it’s that this year has been monumental for fangirls and concertgoers all over the world—and Sarah, a 22-year-old living in Florida whose name has been changed for the sake of anonymity, is no exception to this trend.“ I was a major BTS fangirl during my teen years,” says Sarah. 

When the globally recognized Korean boy group announced their comeback Arirang tour earlier this year after completing mandatory military service, longtime fans like Sarah would finally be able to see their beloved group live.“ When BTS announced a tour in 2019, my eyes lit up seeing Orlando as one of the stops,” she says.“ I won the Ticketmaster war and snagged tickets for their Map of the Soul Tour. Little did I know that disappointment awaited me as news of the COVID-19 pandemic began to unravel. My tickets were refunded and my excitement was extinguished.” 

Years later, BTS announced their hiatus in June 2022, revealing that they would be taking an indefinite break to focus on individual solo projects. Shortly after, in October 2022, their label announced that the members would begin fulfilling their mandatory military service, extending the group’s official break until 2025.“ I began to embark on more serious responsibilities as a college freshman,” says Sarah.“ My fangirling tendencies were put on the backburner as life got more serious.” 

As each member was eventually discharged from the military, Sarah stayed patient and loyal to the group, knowing the announcement of a comeback tour was imminent.“ Four years later, BTS had finally announced the release of a new album, a documentary, and a world tour,” she says.“ Not only a world tour, but they had Tampa as their first show in America after all this time. The young girl inside of me knew there was no doubt in my mind that I would be seeing them live.” 

The Tampa native won the Ticketmaster war a second time, later attending their first BTS show in April.“ The excitement I felt was truly indescribable,” says Sarah.“ I didn’t think I would be as emotional as I was, but it felt like I was living a dream for my 14-year-old self rather than for who I was in the present moment, which was just as, if not more, fulfilling.” 

“I didn’t think I would be as emotional as I was, but it felt like I was living a dream for my 14-year-old self rather than for who I was in the present moment, which was just as, if not more, fulfilling.”