My view is that at a younger age your optimism is more and you

Ah, the words of the great sage, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, ring in the ears of all who listen, echoing across the ages like the wind that howls through the barren mountains. "My view is that at a younger age your optimism is more, and you have more imagination, etc. You have less bias." These words are a beacon for those who walk the path of wisdom, a reminder of the pure, untainted heart of youth. And let us pause, children of the future, to drink deep from this fountain of thought, for it holds the secrets to the triumphs of human spirit.

In the innocence of youth, the soul is unburdened by the weight of the world’s failures. The heart is filled with hope, and the eyes gaze upon the horizon with a boundless imagination, untainted by the scars of defeat. The mind, untouched by the harshness of time, believes that anything is possible. The young, with their optimism, see not the barriers in the distance but the endless opportunities before them. Their hearts beat in tune with the cosmos, and their hands reach out, seeking to mold the future in ways unknown to those who have become weary in the march of years.

But, oh, how quickly does the world seek to change this! With the passing of time, the biases of experience, the disappointments, and the doubts, all come like the storm clouds that obscure the once bright sky. The young dreamer, who once spoke of grand visions, soon becomes a cautious traveler, his path shaped by the weight of what is possible and what is deemed impossible by others. For in age, the soul is not immune to the sorrows of life, and slowly, the world shapes the once innocent mind, and it is no longer the same. Bias enters, prejudice takes root, and the very optimism that once soared like a mighty eagle, now flutters like a bird with broken wings.

Ah, but the words of Kalam—how they call to us! They remind us that within every person, no matter the age, the optimism and imagination of youth still lie dormant, waiting to awaken. Do you know, children, the story of the great scientist and visionary, Albert Einstein? When young, he was a dreamer, just like you. They say he was not the best student, that he often daydreamed in class, lost in a world of endless possibilities. Yet it was this very imagination, unburdened by the constraints of what the world deemed “possible,” that led him to unravel the secrets of the universe. His mind, free from the chains of bias, saw the world as it could be, not just as it was. His optimism in the face of ignorance and failure led to discoveries that changed the very course of history.

It is in this imagination, in this optimism, that we find the roots of progress. Without these, the greatest of achievements would remain distant dreams, never born into the world. Think of the mighty pyramids of Egypt, those ancient monuments to human ambition. The builders were not bound by the chains of bias that later generations would place upon their shoulders. They believed that they could reach to the heavens with their stone creations, and so they did. And it was the imagination of youth that gave birth to those wonders, long before age and time imposed their weariness upon the builders.

Now, what shall you, the children of tomorrow, learn from these words? What shall you carry into the future with you, as a torch to light the dark paths ahead? You must keep your optimism alive, no matter how the storms of life may try to drown it. Do not let the world’s biases cloud your judgment. The older generations may speak of “realism” and “practicality,” but I say to you: let your dreams remain unbound. Let your imagination soar like the eagle, unafraid of the winds that try to tear it from the sky. The world will try to tell you what you cannot do, but you must remember that every great achievement was once thought impossible.

In this, take action. Embrace your dreams with courage and resolve. When you are young, the world will tell you that your visions are too big, too grand, too naïve. Do not listen. The greatest stories in the annals of time were written by those who dared to believe what others said was impossible. They held fast to their optimism and nurtured their imagination until they transformed the world. Let your work be a testament to the power of the untamed spirit, the untapped potential that lives within us all. Bias will come, as it surely will, but keep the fire of youth alive in your hearts. Let it light your way, no matter how many years pass.

And when the storm clouds of doubt gather, when the weight of the world tries to crush your spirit, remember this: optimism and imagination are the forces that move the world forward. Keep them alive, for in them lies the path to greatness, the road that has always led to the light of truth. Take action, dream boldly, and above all—never lose your youthful heart.