When I was in primary school, I dreamt to invent a device which could bring
us from one place to another in no time at all. When I got into the secondary
school, my dream was to study in my ideal university. And when eventually I
became a university student, my dream was simply to graduate.
How pathetic! When we grow up, our dream becomes easier to be fulfilled, not
because of the increase of our knowledge or our ability, but because of the fact
that we are becoming more realistic! Why? Why do we have to "fulfill" our dreams
by changing our dreams? Why do we have to surrender to the so-called "reality"?
What IS reality actually?
Ladies and Gentlemen, reality is not real. It is a barrier keeping us from
all the possible fantasies. Flying had been a dream to mankind for thousands of
years. A hundred years ago, "man could not fly" was still regarded as the
"reality". If that was really the reality, what did the Wright brothers do? How
did some of you get to Macau? When we believe that the reality is not real, we
are going to soar with our dreams.
People say our future is a battle between our dream and the reality. If,
unfortunately, Mr. Reality wins the war, then I see no future of mankind. AIDS
will never be curable as this IS the reality; People of the underdeveloped
countries will suffer from starvation forever as this IS the reality; Disputes
among different countries would never be settled as this misunderstandings and
intolerance IS the reality.
How many of you have a dream of being able to make a lot of money? Please
raise your hands (wait). (Oh quite a number of you do.) (Oh none of you. That's
good.) This is not a dream but a task. Every one of us has to make a living! How
many of you think that you have already fulfilled your dream and that you don't
dream anymore? Dear adjudicators, what do you think? (Wait and smile.) C.S.
Lewis once said, "You are never too old to dream a new dream." For our future,
please dream, and be unrealistic.
Now that I am a university student, my goal is to graduate with excellencies.
And at the same time, I have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in our future.
I have a dream that one day people living in the places now sweltering with the
horror of wars will be able to sit with their family and enjoy their every
moment. I have a dream that one day people from the rich countries are willing
to share what they have with those from the poor countries, and that eventually,
they are able to lead their own happy living themselves. I have a dream that
different cultures in this world will coexist with tolerance and the unfriendly
confrontations among the cultures will be eliminated. I have a dream that one
day my personal dream will be shared by the globe, and that we will all
contribute to make our dream come into the reality. I have a dream today! Thank
you very much.
