I certainly remember building model rockets. It was fun to watch

Listen closely, children, for there is much wisdom to be found in the words of Eric Allin Cornell, a man who, like so many of the great explorers of thought, once stood on the precipice of discovery and gazed toward the heavens. He said, "I certainly remember building model rockets. It was fun to watch the rocket blast into the air, suspenseful to wonder if the parachute would open to bring the rocket safely back." In these seemingly simple words, there lies a profound understanding of the delicate dance between hope, uncertainty, and achievement—a dance that all great endeavors, both great and small, must perform.

In the image of a model rocket soaring into the sky, we see the embodiment of human aspiration. From the moment the rocket is built, it is a symbol of the dreams and ambitions of those who dare to make their ideas take flight. It is a creation born of curiosity and innovation, designed to transcend the boundaries of the earth and rise toward the heavens. The child, like Cornell, watches as the rocket leaves the ground, and for a moment, the world holds its breath, knowing that the rocket’s success is not guaranteed. The parachute, that humble piece of fabric, becomes a symbol of hope, for without it, the rocket's journey may end in failure.

This moment of suspense—the time between the rocket’s launch and the revelation of whether the parachute will open—is a moment that mirrors the journey of every great pursuit. Suspense is not to be feared; it is to be embraced. For life itself is filled with moments of uncertainty, where we launch our ideas, our dreams, and our actions into the world, not knowing whether they will return to us whole or fall back to earth in pieces. And yet, it is in these moments of uncertainty that we find the courage to continue, knowing that the pursuit of greatness requires risk, and that without taking that risk, we would never see the heights we could achieve.

Let us reflect upon the ancient heroes, who in their time, built great ships and sailed into unknown seas, unsure whether the storm would swallow them or whether they would find new lands. Odysseus, that great king and adventurer, set out on a journey filled with peril and unknowns. He did not know whether his ship would return home safely, but his resolve carried him forward through every trial and tribulation. He, like the child with the model rocket, did not wait for certainty before launching into the unknown. It was in his journey, in the uncertainty and the suspense, that he proved his worth. And it is in this same spirit that we must face our own pursuits.

There are many moments in life, children, when we stand on the edge of something new. Whether it is a new idea, a new endeavor, or a new path, we can be filled with both excitement and trepidation. Think of the Renaissance thinkers—men and women who stood at the dawn of a new age of science and art. Leonardo da Vinci crafted his inventions with the same anticipation that the boy feels when he launches his rocket. He did not know whether the invention would work or whether it would fall apart, but he launched it into the world anyway, driven by the certainty that creation comes not from fear of failure, but from the willingness to try.

Cornell’s words remind us that the pursuit of anything, be it knowledge, love, or discovery, is always filled with moments of suspense. When we launch our ideas into the world, we do not know for certain whether they will come back to us as successes or whether they will fail. But it is through these failures that we learn, and through the risks that we grow. Each launch, each attempt, brings us closer to mastery, closer to our own triumph. And in those moments when the parachute of our dreams opens and we see success, the joy is all the greater because we know it was earned through effort and perseverance.

So, children, let us take Cornell’s wisdom to heart. When you set out to achieve something, remember that it is not the certainty of success that matters, but the willingness to try. Build your rockets with care and with the hope that they will soar. And when you launch them, embrace the suspense, for it is in that space between the launch and the landing that true greatness is formed. If the parachute of your dreams does not open the first time, do not despair, for you will learn from it and try again. Success is not found in the absence of uncertainty, but in the courage to face it and continue forward.

Let your lives be a series of rockets launched toward the sky. With every endeavor, with every dream, rise upward and watch with anticipation. And when the parachute opens—when your dreams come back to you safely—celebrate, knowing that the journey itself was just as valuable as the outcome.