This is a dream I've had twice now. I’m at this really big school that has a dormitory. I first wake up in the back of a student transport van, dazed and confused. This time, the driver is familiar with me. I’m talking to the driver asking him where am I? Where are you taking me? And he smiles and answers saying we already had this conversation. Later in the dream, I’m walking/running down the halls of the school trying to find familiar faces. My big sister is there, my best friends are there, my old boss is there, and new faces are there (as well as family). My best friend and my baby cousin were trying on different dresses from the fashion designers at the school, my other best friend had just gotten off of work and came to see me/spend the night with me, and my old boss and her daughter were there to open up a hair salon on campus— being freaked out about how familiar everything felt, with new differences I started to run away and ended up in this big apartment where I had three roommates, however they weren’t the same girls as last time. I ran away again and found the driver from before, and asked to hitch a ride with him while he goes on his commute. I ended up falling asleep and dreamt about driving and crashing . I then wake up in a daze and everything repeats, with little differences
Your dream carries a rich tapestry of imagery and emotions that speak to various elements of your waking life. Let’s delve into the details and symbolism present in your experience, unraveling the messages your subconscious may be conveying.
The school represents a place of learning, self-discovery, and social interaction. It can signify a transitional phase in your life — you might be grappling with personal or professional development or seeking a sense of belonging. The dormitory aspect may indicate feelings of comfort and safety, but also a sense of collective experiences shared with others.
Starting your dream in the back of a student transport van while feeling dazed represents a journey you’re undergoing, symbolizing changes or transformations in your life. The driver being familiar suggests that you might have a guiding force — a mentor, a friend, or even an aspect of yourself that offers support. His response about having "already had this conversation" hints at unresolved questions or themes in your life. It may invoke feelings of déjà vu — perhaps there’s a decision or a conversation you need to revisit consciously.
This action speaks to a sense of urgency, a desire to reconnect with your past, or seeking validation from familiar faces. The presence of your big sister and friends signifies strong emotional ties and the importance of support systems in your life. However, the new faces symbolize changes or new experiences that may feel overwhelming. The mix of familiar and new could point to your struggle with embracing change while longing for the comfort of what you know.
Fashion often represents self-expression or identity, while the hair salon suggests transformation or renewal. Seeing your best friends and family engaged in activities related to self-promotion, creativity, and appearance might reflect your perceptions about how others see you, or pressure you feel to conform to certain societal standards. It can also denote your desire for self-actualization or reinvention.
Your instinct to run away from the familiar yet strange environment of the school indicates your anxiety about these changes. You might be in a phase of your life where you’re trying to escape expectations or the weight of your own choices. Your instincts push you toward the unknown, which may feel safer, even though it’s chaotic and disconcerting.
Moving into an apartment with different roommates can represent shifts in your social circles or a desire for independence. The new dynamics with them may suggest that you are exploring new aspects of your identity or trying to navigate new relationships, which may not feel the way you'd expected.
Dreaming about driving symbolizes control over your life’s direction, while crashing can indicate obstacles or fear of failure. Falling asleep while driving suggests feelings of losing control, perhaps from the stress or overwhelming nature of your current life circumstances.
The cyclical nature of your dream, where everything repeats with little differences, might suggest that there are themes in your life that you have not fully worked through. It hints at feelings of being trapped in patterns, whether they be emotional, relational, or related to personal growth.
Overall, your dream expresses a deep-seated conflict between familiarity and the anxiety of new beginnings. It highlights themes of transformation, the search for identity, support systems, and dealing with leading changes. Reflecting on the emotions tied to these experiences might yield insights into what parts of your life you need to address or embrace more openly. Consider where you feel overwhelmed and how you can nurture both your comfort zones and ambitions for growth.