ESL Podcast 736 - Following One's Dream
to quit - to stop working in a particular job; to announce that one will not continue to work in a position or organization
If Jens' boss won't give him a raise, he's going to quit.
to be meant for - to be intended for; to have specific expectations for oneself
Quentin felt like he was meant for a career in engineering because he's always wanted to know how things worked.
pathetic - not deserving respect or interest; very weak, uninteresting, or unhelpful
That is a pathetic attempt to make others feel sorry for you so that you don't have to do your work!
to pass (one) by - to proceed without involving oneself, especially when it seems like time is passing very quickly and one is missing opportunities
Naori is taking a lot of classes in the evening, because she's worried that promotions will pass her by at work.
to sacrifice - to give something up; to decide not to do or have something because it will result in some benefit in the future; to accept a temporary disadvantage because one expects to receive some advantage later as a result
They're sacrificing a lot right now to pay off their mortgage early, but they're looking forward to being debt-free.
security - stability; the feeling of safety and predictability, especially related to having enough money and housing
Liam said that being a software developer may not be very exciting, but it provides a lot of security.
to make a difference - to make a valuable contribution in the world; to change society in a positive way
Ilya joined the Peace Corps to try to make a difference.
to do big things - to do something that is important and impressive
Olga dreams of doing big things when she grows up, such as being a civil rights activist.
to have an impact - to do something that is important, produces many changes, and is noticed by many people
It's amazing how much the Internet has had an impact on our daily life in the past 20 years.
admirable - something that one respects and looks up to; something that is valued
Patrice's honesty is admirable, but I wish she wouldn't share her opinions so openly.
guts - bravery; courage; willingness to do something that is difficult, dangerous, or risky
It took a lot of guts for you to tell the truth about what happened. Thank you.
to aspire - to try to do something that is difficult, ambitious, and important
Dmitry aspires to become a millionaire by the time he is 30.
to follow (one's) dream - to do what one wants to do; to do what is most important; to achieve one's goals and ambitions
Yvonne is determined to follow her dream of becoming an astronaut, so she's studying physics and astronomy.
destined - intended to have or be in the future; meant to be
Everyone could tell Wei was destined for greatness, even as a child.
vocation - calling; what one believes one should do, especially as a career
I think Ingrid missed her true vocation. She should have been a composer.
to follow (one's) heart - to do what one believes is right, correct, and good, especially if other people disagree
Missy knows she'll never make much money as a teacher, but she wants to follow her heart.