Nobody fulfilled a dream without having to go through hardships and challenges. Even the richest people in the world, who seem to have everything, had to sacrifice something to get to where they are now.

In a recent talk for Meralco Power Academy’s Young Engineers and Scientists Summit (YESS) in Iloilo City, Ikigai Philippines Head Coach Alexis Torres shared that each of us are our own “main characters.” Just like in movies and in popular anime shows, main characters always go through a series of seemingly insurmountable challenges before ultimately succeeding and transforming for the better.

Also known as The Hero’s Journey, popularized by American writer and literature professor Joseph Campbell, this narrative structure is a common template for storytelling, but is also often seen in real life.

“As the main characters in our own lives, we face challenges and grow after overcoming obstacles. In life, nothing worthwhile comes without a little bit of a struggle. The difficulty is part of the learning and should be embraced,” Coach Alexis said.

Take the case of aeronautical engineer Mark Kennedy Bantugon, also a speaker in the same event, and the inventor of Pili Seal, an aircraft sealant and adhesive made from pili tree resin waste. Before getting the right formulation for his award-winning invention, he tested six different types of tree resin and went through 84 formulations—at some point even collapsing due to exhaustion. But he never gave up, and now he is reaping the benefits of his hard work, perseverance, and grit.

It was a dream come true for Bantugon, inventing an organic and sustainable alternative to the commonly used polysulfide-based aviation sealants. And he would not have fulfilled that dream if he had given up when he struggled and failed many times during his journey.

Instead of giving up, he worked even harder, fueled by the desire to come up with an environmentally friendly product and help provide better livelihood opportunities to pili farmers all over the country. When he finally succeeded, he was more than ready to not only reap the rewards of his labor, but also to take his invention to an even higher level.

“Do you believe dreams can come true? Many things need to fall into place for that to happen, but it’s important for us to be ready when the opportunity presents itself,” Coach Alexis said. “While the world continues to turn, we are taking the necessary steps to be ready when it’s our time to shine. Do not be afraid to dream. Do not be afraid to do what’s right for you and for your community.”