Dream Bigger, Go Further

　When I was a child,/my grandmother told me/that money can disappear.// She owned a company on Karafuto,/now called Sakhalin,/but lost it/when the Soviet Army invaded.// She said,/“If you have money,/you should buy books/because you will profit from the knowledge/they give you.”//
　I watched the Apollo moon landing on TV/with my grandfather.// I was impressed/by how thrilled he was.// I wanted to delight him again,/so I purchased a book about rockets/and showed it to him.// He smiled.// My grandfather’s smile was/behind my dream.//

　In junior high school,/a teacher commanded me/to study and stop daydreaming about rockets.// The teacher said/I was not a genius/and my dreams wouldn’t come true.// He said,/“Anyway,/you can’t do it.”// I was devastated.//
　Sometimes/people criticize your dreams.// Their words undermine your confidence.// Instead,/making money may become your objective/to impress others.// This is unfortunate.// We can eventually do things/that we can’t do at first.// When someone discourages you by saying,/“Anyway,/you can’t do it,”/that person hasn’t made an attempt.// When we can’t see the future,/we give up.// Society would be better/without/“Anyway,/you can’t do it.”//

　We only have one life/and we should make it worthwhile.// If not,/why were we born/into this world?// And missteps are important for us/to make strides.// We grow through our mistakes.// They help us improve.// This is a positive situation.//
　We were not born to surrender/or rely on others/to do our work.// We were born to create,/flourish and reach our potential.// Don’t look for reasons/why you can’t do something.// Instead,/find reasons/to help you reach your goals.// If you do this,/you will achieve your dreams/and inspire the next generation.//

　Sometimes we do things/that we think/will make us wealthy.// But I believe/it is better to focus on/what fascinates you.// This will help you/fulfill your dreams and succeed.// I have loved rockets all my life.// But in the beginning,/people/who had no background in rockets/told me/that my dream was hopeless.//
　When I was a child,/my mother told me,/if I endeavored/and really yearned to achieve my dream,/then I would succeed.// I was convinced by her words.// Dream bigger/and pass your dreams/to the next generation.// You can do it!//