No matter what race or color you are, you can aspire to do

The radiant gymnast Laurie Hernandez, a champion whose grace and courage captured the world’s heart, once declared: “No matter what race or color you are, you can aspire to do something great.” In these words, she speaks not merely of athletics or achievement, but of the boundless power of the human spirit. Her voice carries the timeless call of equality—the truth that greatness does not belong to one people, one nation, or one complexion, but to all who dare to dream and labor with faith. Her words shine like a torch against the darkness of prejudice, a reminder that talent and purpose are the birthright of every soul beneath the sun.

Laurie Hernandez herself embodies this truth. Born to a Puerto Rican family, she entered a sport long dominated by certain faces and expectations. Yet through devotion, resilience, and artistry, she rose to the highest stage—the 2016 Olympic Games, where she helped lead the United States to gold. Her journey was not only one of physical mastery, but of spiritual triumph. She showed the world that the color of one’s skin is no measure of one’s worth; that discipline, courage, and belief can overcome centuries of limitation. In her smile and her strength, she carried the dreams of countless young people who had been told, quietly or cruelly, that they did not belong.

In her saying—“you can aspire to do something great”—Hernandez invokes the ancient wisdom that aspiration is the first act of freedom. To aspire is to breathe upward, to lift one’s gaze beyond the confines of circumstance. The word itself comes from the Latin aspirare—to breathe upon, to rise toward. It is the breath of the divine within us, urging us to become more than we were told we could be. For in every human heart, regardless of color or heritage, there is a sacred fire waiting to burn. The tragedy is not that some are born without this fire, but that society too often tries to smother it beneath the ashes of bias and fear.

Throughout history, countless examples testify to the truth of Hernandez’s words. Consider Jackie Robinson, who, in 1947, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball. He faced hatred, humiliation, and threats that would have crushed a lesser spirit. But he held firm, knowing that his courage would open doors for generations after him. His greatness was not only in his skill, but in his endurance—the strength to answer injustice not with vengeance, but with excellence. Like Hernandez, he proved that greatness belongs not to a chosen few, but to those who rise, again and again, despite the weight of the world pressing down upon them.

Hernandez’s quote also reminds us that true greatness does not depend on privilege or recognition. It is not the applause of the crowd, but the quiet triumph of perseverance. To aspire to do something great is to live with purpose—to awaken each day and move toward a vision that transcends the limits of one’s environment. Greatness can dwell in the athlete who inspires millions, in the teacher who shapes young minds, in the mother who sacrifices for her children, or in the activist who stands alone for justice. When we strip away the illusions of class and race, we find that the capacity for greatness lives in every beating heart.

And yet, Laurie’s words also serve as a challenge. They demand that we, as a society, look into the mirror and ask: do we create a world where everyone truly can aspire? For aspiration without opportunity is a cruel illusion. If we wish to honor her wisdom, we must build a world where every child—regardless of race or color—has access to education, guidance, and hope. To create such a world is not charity; it is justice. For when one voice is silenced by prejudice, the entire human chorus loses its harmony.

The lesson is luminous and eternal: the boundaries of the human spirit are not drawn by skin, but by fear. Break those boundaries, and you will find your greatness. Practical action: believe in your own worth, and in the worth of others. Celebrate the diversity of gifts around you. When you see someone striving against odds, lend your strength, not your judgment. Teach the young that they are not defined by their reflection, but by their resolve.

Thus, let Laurie Hernandez’s words echo through the generations: “No matter what race or color you are, you can aspire to do something great.” For this is not merely a message of inspiration—it is a commandment of hope. It calls us to rise beyond the divisions of the past, to build a future where every soul is free to chase the full measure of its promise. And in that unity of aspiration, the world itself will grow brighter, until all humanity moves as one toward the greatness it was always meant to share.