I'm looking for a shojo manga with a heroine that actually has goals/dreams. Not dreams like "get a good boyfriend." I want her to have real dreams; sports, acting, something she's passionate about. I want her dreams to have a crucial part in the story as well. It would be nice if the guy she met was also related to her dreams, but it doesn't have to be.

Thanks!!

Cat street
Skip beat! even though at first, her motive is to get revenge..

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S.P.Y- the main chracter wants to be an olympic swimmer like her mom
Suzuka- this might be what your looking for, i don't know maybe


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[CENTER]Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.[/CENTER]

Glass Mask!

Full Moon Wo Sagashite

She wants to become a professional singer, like her parents, and one of the love interests is a shinigami who hangs around and makes her look older so she can compete.

You could also try Nana

It has two main characters. They both decide to move to Tokyo and become good friends. They each have different reasons for their move. One is just following her boyfriend, but one ends up recreating a band she used to have and becoming very competitive with this other much more popular band that she has personal issues with.

Cousin Main Goal: To lose weight (not to get a boyfriend, but for herself)
Kaze Hikaru Main Goal: To become a samurai
Orange Chocolate Main Goal: To become a high-class actress
Mix Vegetable Main Goal: To become a sushi chef
Crimson Hero Main Goal: Become a great volleyball player

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Go to work, send your kids to school;
Follow fashion, act normal;
Walk on the pavement, watch T.V.;
Save for retirement, obey the law.
Repeat after me: I am free.

Glass no Kamen- actress
Swan - Hakuchou- ballerina

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I read so much mangas, I'm too lazy to watch anime!

Manga I'm loving ATM: Heart no Kuni no Alice

Ashita no Ousama (josei) - writing/directing
Beauty Pop - hair styling
Gokinjo Monogatari - fashion design
Nodame Cantabile (josei) - piano

I can only speak about the anime, but these were also enjoyable:
Saiunkoku Monogatari - public service
Whisper of the Heart - writing
Yumeiro Patissiere - dessert making

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Avatar by tassyn.livejournal.com

Reading: Kingdom, Sangokushi, Historie

Basara definitely!!! Can't belive no one has mentioned it. It's sooo epic, maybe too epic But I seriously love this manga very much. Though the art style is a little old because the manga is really old, even older than me but still very good and unique so give it a try if you haven't already.
And maybe Double arts? I found it endearing and pleasant but unfortunately it was finished with a rushed ending, even though it had such potential but ah well...

Oh, you'd love Ashita no Ousama as well.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Unfortunately I actually have read/reading many of them. Cat Street (my most fav manga ever!), Glass Mask, Full Moon wo Sagashite, Whisper of the Heart, Ashita no Ousama, Beauty Pop, Gokinjo Monogatari.

The following I have already tried but didn't like: I don't really like things like Yumeiro Patissiere or Mix Vegetable because they just seem very superficial. Cousin was just.. too boring. Kaze Hikaru was cool, but I don't really like older style manga. Ouran High School Host Club I read for a long time and then just stopped because it started getting way too dragged out lol...

But I checked out Crimson Hero and I absolutely loooooooooved it! Can't wait for more chapters! I liked Orange Chocolate a lot too :] I'm going to try Basara again as well. I couldn't find any releases for Swan - Hakuchou though.

Arghhhhh and I totally know what you mean. Double Arts was sooooo good, I was so mad that it got cut off. It should have run in a shojo magazine instead :[

Thanksssss for all the recs guys! And if anyone has anymore I'd love to hear them! ^^