1. Are you confident enough to ask questions or express your views in public?
I am not always confident to speak in public. Sometimes, I feel nervous or scared, just like the village boy in the story. I worry that others may laugh at me or think I am wrong. But I know that asking questions is a way to learn more and become better. I try to speak more during class and at home to practice. I prepare before speaking so I won’t feel lost. Dr. Kalam’s words gave me strength. He said every youth is born with wings. That makes me feel that I can do anything if I try. Slowly, my confidence is growing. I want to become someone who is not afraid to express my thoughts clearly in public.
2. Have you ever felt inferior to others in any way?
Yes, I have felt inferior many times. I used to feel shy when I saw other students who spoke better English or wore nice clothes. Like the boy in the story, I compared myself with others and felt small. But I realized that everyone has their own problems, even if they look perfect. Feeling inferior does not help me grow. Instead, I now try to focus on my strengths. I believe I have talents too, even if they are different. Dr. Kalam’s poem made me realize that I am born with potential and confidence. Now I try to be proud of who I am and improve myself every day. I have stopped comparing myself to others and started believing in me.
3. How can you overcome your fear or inhibition?
I believe that I can overcome fear by building self-confidence and practicing daily. Fear is natural, but if I keep running from it, I will never grow. I need to take small steps, like talking more in class or asking one question at a time. Speaking to kind friends or teachers can also help. When I prepare well, I feel less afraid. I must stop thinking about others’ opinions and believe in my own worth. The poem “I will fly” by Dr. Kalam reminded me that I was born with wings and dreams. That means I have the power to grow. I will never stop trying until I win over my fear and become brave enough to do what I want.
4. What is your ambition in life?
My ambition in life is to become a teacher. I want to help students who are afraid to ask questions, just like the boy in the story. I want to make learning simple and fun, especially for students in villages who don’t have many chances. I believe teaching is a very powerful job, as teachers shape the minds of future leaders. A teacher can change the life of a shy or weak student by giving them hope. I want to be that kind of teacher. I will work hard, be kind, and guide students with love. Dr. Kalam inspired me to think big and have confidence. I want to follow his path and become someone who helps others learn and grow.
5. Are you confident that you can fulfil your dream?
Yes, I believe I can fulfil my dream, even if the journey is not easy. I know there will be problems, but I will not give up. I am ready to work hard, improve my skills, and learn from mistakes. Dr. Kalam said that we all are born with confidence and dreams. That gives me courage. If I study every day, believe in myself, and get support from my family and teachers, I can reach my goal. Sometimes, I feel afraid. But then I remember the village boy’s question and how Dr. Kalam encouraged him. That gives me hope. I know I must fight many small battles, but if I stay strong, I will become the person I want to be.
6. How do you think you can attain your goal?
To attain my goal, I must have a strong plan and follow it with discipline. I will study hard, ask questions, and use every chance to learn something new. I need to stop comparing myself to others and focus on my path. I will also try to improve my language and communication skills. I believe that reading books, talking to good teachers, and staying positive will help me. The most important thing is to believe in myself. Dr. Kalam said, “You are born with wings.” That means I have all the power I need inside me. I just need to use it. I will not give up when I face failure. I will keep moving forward until I reach my dream.
Textual Analysis
Dear friends, I realize how the contributions of the youth in the past have continuously contributed to the world of today in many fields. I would like to assert that no youth today needs to fear about the future. Why? The ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, under the earth, and above the earth. Dear young friends, I would like to talk to you on the topic ‘I am born with wings.’
Last year, I went to a village to inaugurate a programme called Sasthrayaan, which means ‘the propagation of Science’. The mission of Sasthrayaan was to ensure the preparation of about two thousand students from different schools, towards making them eligible to be engineers, scientists, doctors, qualified managers, and civil servants. This action would, in turn, empower about two thousand families of the village. My inaugural address to a mixed audience, consisting of five thousand students and their family members, was on the topic, ‘Science Empowers the Nation’.
After my address, hundreds of hands were raised for asking questions. Due to the limited availability of time, I selected twelve students at random, from the last row to the first, to ask questions. I would like to share with you one question of great concern which was asked by a student.
The question was from a teenager who had come from a far away village. He was nervous and a typical representative of the youth of India. The boy began speaking, ‘Sir, I don’t know what I should ask. I am nervous. I have not asked any question in my class. I need to have confidence, but I have not gained any confidence through my education during all these years. I am afraid to talk to my teachers, I am afraid to talk to my friends.
Whenever I talk, I compare myself with other students and their elegant dress. Please tell me. I want to become a marine engineer. I want to travel in a ship. I want to be the captain of the ship. I want to build the engine of the ship. Shall I be able to do all these, sir? How can I achieve this mission? What should I do?’ When the boy completed the question, the entire audience and the dignitaries on the dais, including the Chief Minister, were looking at me wondering what Kalam was going to say to the sincere question of a young village boy.
I thought of it, and breaking the silence, I said, ‘My dear friend, you have put the most difficult question among the many questions that I have
received from millions and millions of students whom I have met. I value your question. I know you are echoing the fear of many. Let me recite a beautiful ancient poem named ‘I will fly’.
I am born with potential.
I am born with goodness and trust.
I am born with ideas and dreams.
I am born with greatness.
I am born with confidence.
I am born with wings.
So, I am not meant for crawling,
I have wings, I will fly
I will fly and fly.
Young friends, let me discuss with you, how you can be unique. I have, so far, met fifteen million youth in a decade’s time. I learnt, ‘Every youth wants to be unique, that is YOU!’ But the world all around you is doing its best, day and night, to make you just ‘everybody else’. In your home, dear young fellows, you are asked by your parents to be like the neighbours’ children for scoring good marks. When you go to school, your teacher says, ‘Why don’t you become like the first five rankers in the class?’
Wherever you go, people say, ‘You have to be somebody else or everybody else’. Now, dear young friends, how many of you would like to be unique yourself? The challenge, my dear young friends, is that you have to fight the hardest battle which any human being can ever imagine, and never stop fighting until you arrive at your destined place, that is, a UNIQUE YOU!
