“I Will Fly” is an inspiring speech by Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.It encourages young people to overcome fear and develop self-confidence.
Dr Kalam says that the youth of the past contributed greatly to the development of the world.
He believes that no young person needs to fear the future.
According to him, the ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource in the world.
Dr Kalam speaks on the topic “I am born with wings.”
He recalls his visit to a village to inaugurate a programme called Sasthrayaan.
Sasthrayaan means “the propagation of science.”
The programme aimed to prepare about two thousand students for successful careers.
It helped them to become engineers, scientists, doctors, qualified managers and civil servants.
The programme was also expected to empower about two thousand families in the village.
Dr Kalam addressed nearly five thousand students and their family members.
The topic of his inaugural address was “Science Empowers the Nation.”
After the speech, hundreds of students raised their hands to ask questions.
As time was limited, Dr Kalam selected twelve students to ask questions.
One of them was a nervous teenager from a distant village.
The boy admitted that he did not know how to ask his question.
He had never asked a question in his class.
His education had not helped him develop confidence.
He was afraid to speak to his teachers and friends.
He often compared himself with other students and their elegant clothes.
Such comparisons made him feel inferior.
However, the boy had a definite ambition in life.
He wanted to become a marine engineer.
He wished to travel in a ship and become its captain.
He also wanted to build the engine of the ship.
He asked Dr Kalam whether he could achieve his ambition.
The entire audience waited eagerly for Dr Kalam’s reply.
Dr Kalam appreciated the sincerity of the boy’s question.
He valued it because it expressed the fears of millions of young people.
Dr Kalam responded by reciting the poem “I Will Fly.”
The poem declares that every person is born with potential.
Every individual is born with goodness and trust.
Everyone is also born with ideas, dreams, greatness and confidence.
The poem says that human beings are born with wings.
The wings symbolise talent, courage, confidence and ambition.
Crawling symbolises fear, weakness and lack of confidence.
Flying symbolises freedom, progress and achievement.
The poem teaches that human beings are not meant to crawl in fear.
They must use their abilities and fly towards their dreams.
Dr Kalam says that every young person wants to be unique.
However, the world continuously tries to make everyone alike.
Parents often ask children to be like their neighbours’ children.
Teachers sometimes compare students with the highest-ranking pupils.
Such comparisons can weaken a young person’s confidence and individuality.
Dr Kalam advises young people not to imitate others blindly.
They must recognise and develop their own abilities.
Becoming unique is one of the hardest battles in life.
A person must continue fighting until they reach their destined place.
True success means becoming one’s authentic and unique self.
The lesson teaches us to stop comparing ourselves with others.
It inspires us to believe in our potential and work towards our ambitions.
It reminds us that we are not born to crawl—we are born to fly.
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HSE English 4 U
I Will Fly
Plus One English
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XI Improvement