I used to think about how nice it would be to visit the planets.

Children, gather close and listen to the words of Clyde Tombaugh, a man whose vision of the stars and planets led him to the discovery of Pluto, a journey that began with a simple, youthful dream. He once said, "I used to think about how nice it would be to visit the planets. Of course, I didn't expect to see in my lifetime what has happened. I knew it would happen some day, but it came along faster than I at first thought." These words, though spoken with humility, speak to a truth that transcends time: the dream of discovery and progress often unfolds faster than we anticipate, surprising us with its speed and scope.

As a child, Tombaugh gazed at the stars with wonder, imagining a future where humanity would travel not just to the moon, but to the planets themselves. He saw beyond the confines of the earth, dreaming of a time when the impossible would become the possible. Yet, as he worked tirelessly, mapping the heavens with his telescope, he could not have known that the discoveries of his generation would unfold far more quickly than even his wildest dreams. The speed of progress, like the velocity of a rocket leaving Earth’s atmosphere, defied expectations. What once seemed distant and unattainable was quickly within our grasp. The dreams of yesterday became the reality of today.

This progress, children, did not come from idle wishful thinking or from waiting for the world to change on its own. It came from the dedication, hard work, and vision of those like Tombaugh, who were not just dreamers but doers. The discovery of Pluto was a monumental achievement, but it was the belief that one day humanity would venture beyond our world, that the stars and planets would no longer be out of reach, that propelled Tombaugh and many others to search the heavens. The journey to the stars is not a gift handed down from the heavens but a journey shaped by the work, the dedication, and the imagination of countless individuals.

Think of the ancient explorers who also dreamed of distant lands. Christopher Columbus, when he set sail across the Atlantic in search of a new world, could not have known that the lands he would find were far greater and more diverse than anything his maps had shown. He, too, imagined a future that seemed distant and unknown, yet through his perseverance and vision, he changed the course of history. His journey, like that of Tombaugh, was not just a matter of physical distance but a leap of imagination, a daring venture into the unknown, propelled by the belief that the world was not as limited as it seemed.

In more recent history, consider the Apollo missions that carried humans to the moon. In the years leading up to the moon landing, many thought the goal of reaching our closest celestial neighbor was a lofty one. But John F. Kennedy, speaking of the nation's ambitions, did not wait for the world to catch up; he set forth the challenge to go to the moon, to venture where no man had gone before. It was not simply the rocket science that made it possible, but the collective will of those who believed that humanity's potential was far greater than it had yet realized. And as Tombaugh noted, the pace of discovery and progress often happens faster than we imagine.

And so, children, what lesson can we take from Tombaugh’s reflection on the rapid pace of discovery? It is this: the future is shaped by those who dare to dream and who are willing to work tirelessly toward that dream, even when the path is not yet clear. Do not wait for the world to change around you. Instead, take the initiative to shape that future yourself. Just as Tombaugh looked at the stars and believed that one day, humanity would reach them, so too should you look to the world before you and envision the future you wish to create.

So, children, look to the stars, and dream boldly. The progress that seems far off, the change that seems impossible, may come faster than you think. When you face obstacles, do not lose hope, for you are part of a long tradition of visionaries who have made the impossible possible. Whether in the pursuit of knowledge, art, justice, or any field of your choosing, know that your efforts, your dedication, and your belief in the future will shape the course of history. Like Tombaugh and the explorers before him, you have the power to make the stars not just a dream, but a destination.