Living the Dream

What would you feel like if you weren’t really wealthy and lived in Africa then become one of the most famous NBA stars of all time? Well this happened with Hakeem. He lived in Africa when he was a kid then people started watching him play basketball and thought he was good. In the book, Living the dream with Hakeem Olajuwon is him telling what it was all like living in Africa with a not to wealthy family too, living a American dream. The book “Living the Dream” made me realized how lucky it was for him to go to school in America and become extremely famous. This is a great story teaching people that no matter where you live and how rich you are, your dream can still come true.

Hakeem lived in Nigeria. Nigeria isn’t the richest country to live in but it did get its independence. People in Africa aren’t as lucky as people like us in America are, but people like Hakeem did something sometimes Americans can’t do. He became a star. Living in Africa, not a lot of people become famous and rich especially when he was 18. Hakeem was getting noticed when he was playing for a small league in Africa. I think there should be more people like him in Africa with dreams and making it come true. Not only he joined the NBA (he was on the Houston Rockets) but he also got the opportunity to go to college in the US.

Even though he lives in Africa, his and other families were poor in Africa. Not only in Africa but around the world there are a lot of poor people. Just because both of his parents had jobs doesn’t mean he is rich, his parents had a lot of kids to support. Since his family was poor, I think they made a good decision of not letting him playing outside because he was in Africa so the chances of him being a athlete are slim. He loved being active. .Making Hakeem wealthy was cool for me to think about because not a lot of people in Africa can say a local in their town was a MVP in the NBA 1994 Championship. You don’t even see that every day in America. I hope people in Africa realize the same struggles Hakeem has been through and look at him now! Africa is an extremely poor place but can have on of the best talents.

In my opinion, Hakeem is really living the dream. This book shouldn’t stop other African children dreams too. If anything this book influences kids everywhere that anything is possible. The book”Living the Dream” is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s not because of how it is written but the story itself. He loved being active and found a way to do what he loved from his whole life. It can teach people that even people in Africa can have talents that outshine America.