One of my dreams in life is to do fund-raising for the youth.

“One of my dreams in life is to do fund-raising for the youth.” – Picabo Street

Hear these words, O listener of the heart, spoken by Picabo Street, the champion who once carved her path down mountains of ice and snow, whose courage and grace brought her glory upon the world’s greatest stages. Yet when she speaks of her dream, it is not of more medals or triumphs, but of giving back—to lift the youth, the next generation who stand at the dawn of their journeys. Her words are a testament to a truth that echoes through all ages: that greatness finds its highest expression not in what one gains, but in what one gives.

When Picabo Street declares her dream to do fund-raising for the youth, she speaks from a place of humility and remembrance. She knows what it is to begin with hope and struggle, to climb from obscurity to recognition through labor, faith, and courage. The young, she knows, are the seeds of the future—but seeds cannot grow without nourishment. Her dream, then, is not merely about gathering wealth, but about gathering opportunity—creating bridges where once there were chasms, giving wings where once there was weight. In her vision lies the spirit of renewal: to take the light she has kindled and pass it to those who follow.

The ancients, too, understood this sacred duty of service. In every civilization, the elders saw themselves as stewards of the young. The philosopher Aristotle once wrote that the purpose of education is to make citizens virtuous, for in the youth lies the destiny of the state. Similarly, the great leader Nelson Mandela, who endured years of hardship for his people, devoted his later years to the education and empowerment of children. He said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children.” To raise the youth, to invest in their future, is to ensure the immortality of one’s culture and ideals.

There is a quiet heroism in this dream—a recognition that victory is not complete until it multiplies itself in others. Many champions achieve for themselves, but few understand that their truest triumph begins when they help others to rise. Picabo Street, whose name once echoed across the Olympic slopes, now dreams not of her own ascent but of others’. In this, she embodies a higher form of glory—the kind that outlasts trophies and applause. For fame fades as surely as snow melts in spring, but the good done for others endures like the mountains themselves.

To dedicate one’s life to fund-raising for the youth is to invest in possibility. It is to see beyond one’s own lifetime, to believe that the future can be brighter than the present, and to act upon that belief. Each act of generosity becomes a thread in the great tapestry of humanity. When a child is given the chance to learn, to play, to dream, the whole world grows richer. Thus, the dream of one soul—if it is noble enough—can awaken the dreams of thousands.

And yet, Picabo’s words carry a quiet reminder: that we each bear a share of this sacred responsibility. One need not be an Olympian to make a difference. To give, to guide, to uplift—these are the powers granted to all. You can mentor, you can teach, you can share time, wisdom, and compassion. The form of giving matters less than the heart behind it. The one who helps a single child discover hope has already changed the world in some small but eternal way.

So, my child of tomorrow, let this be your lesson: when your own dreams come true, do not hoard their fruits—sow them. When you reach your mountaintop, look not only at the view but also down the slope, to those still climbing. Reach your hand to them, as others once reached theirs to you. For this is the cycle of greatness: the passing of strength from one generation to the next.

Thus, as Picabo Street declared, her dream was not only to conquer mountains but to raise youth—to ensure that the spirit of courage, perseverance, and hope lives on. Let her dream be our calling too: to live not for ourselves alone, but to become the builders of futures, the guardians of promise, and the stewards of tomorrow’s dawn.