Make your dreams a reality | Rasandeep Sagoo | TEDxYouth@Hounslow

Summary

This inspiring speech encourages everyone to embrace their dreams, no matter how unconventional, and to pursue them with passion and determination. It highlights the importance of visualizing success, taking small steps, and not being deterred by failure. The speaker uses quotes from Walt Disney and Eleanor Roosevelt to emphasize the power of dreams and the courage to pursue them. The speech concludes with a call to action to start now and to never give up on one's dreams.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Everyone has dreams, no matter how different they are, and they play a crucial role in shaping our lives.
• 💡 The best things in life come from ideas, and in order to achieve something, you must first dream about it.
• 🌟 Success starts with assessing things from your unique perspective, focusing on what excites and motivates you.
• 🎯 Hopes and dreams can be anything—don’t limit them to careers or jobs. New opportunities might emerge that align with your dreams.
• 💎 Opportunities are like diamonds: take them when they come, as they can inspire new dreams or enhance existing ones.
• 🔥 Passion is key to achieving your dreams. Lack of passion can be fatal to success.
• 💪 Failure is inevitable, but it’s essential to get back up, learn from it, and become stronger.
• 🌍 Your background doesn’t determine your potential—hard work and perseverance are what lead to success.
• 👩‍🎤 Be true to yourself and rise above societal pressure to conform. Start pursuing your dreams now.
• 🚀 Aim high and take small steps toward your dreams. Never be afraid to follow them, and keep moving forward.

Q & A

What is the primary message of the speaker in this transcript?

The primary message of the speaker is that dreams are vital for personal fulfillment and success. Everyone should have the courage to pursue their dreams, no matter how unconventional they may seem, and failure should not deter anyone from continuing on their path.

How does the speaker emphasize the importance of dreams?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of dreams by highlighting how dreams give people motivation, drive, and ambition to succeed. They explain that the journey toward achieving a dream is rewarding in itself and is crucial for personal growth and happiness.

What role does passion play in achieving dreams, according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, passion is essential for achieving dreams. It serves as the fuel for turning dreams into reality, and without passion, the pursuit of a dream is likely to fail. Passion helps maintain motivation and focus throughout the journey.

Why does the speaker mention Walt Disney and Eleanor Roosevelt?

The speaker mentions Walt Disney and Eleanor Roosevelt to support the idea that belief in dreams is a key factor in achieving them. They cite Disney’s quote, 'All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,' and Roosevelt’s quote, 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,' to inspire the audience to follow their own dreams.

What is the significance of the story about Freddie Mercury in the context of the speech?

The story of Freddie Mercury, who was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar and became the lead vocalist of Queen, is used to illustrate that anyone can achieve greatness regardless of their background or origins. The speaker uses Mercury’s example to emphasize that hard work and staying true to oneself are critical in the pursuit of dreams.

What advice does the speaker give regarding failure?

The speaker advises that failure is inevitable and will sometimes be difficult, but it should not hold anyone back. Instead, failure should be seen as a learning opportunity that helps a person grow and improve, making them better equipped to continue pursuing their dreams.

How does the speaker address societal pressure in relation to pursuing dreams?

The speaker addresses societal pressure by encouraging individuals to rise above it and stay true to themselves. They explain that many people are afraid of being judged for who they are and what they want to achieve, but societal expectations should not limit one’s ability to follow their dreams.

What does the speaker mean by 'opportunities are like diamonds'?

By saying 'opportunities are like diamonds,' the speaker means that opportunities are rare and valuable. When they present themselves, they should be seized because they can help shape and inspire new dreams or enhance the dreams a person already has.

What is the significance of the speaker’s personal story about studying music?

The speaker shares their personal story about studying music to illustrate how following one’s passion can lead to success. Despite being the only student in their school studying A-level music, they fought for their passion, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and determination in the pursuit of dreams.

What is the speaker’s final message to the audience?

The speaker’s final message to the audience is to never be afraid to follow their dreams. They encourage the audience to pursue their dreams with determination and to not let anything hold them back. The speaker wishes everyone’s dreams to come true, emphasizing the beauty and wonder in dreaming.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 The Power of Dreams

The speaker begins by engaging the audience through a series of questions about their dreams, highlighting the universality of dreams and their significance in shaping our lives. They emphasize the importance of dreaming as the first step towards achieving anything significant. The speaker discusses the evolutionary advantage humans have in manifesting ideas into reality, and the need to assess opportunities through a personal lens. They encourage the audience to base their dreams on personal interests and passions, and to not limit their aspirations to conventional career paths. The speaker also stresses the importance of seizing opportunities, visualizing success, and maintaining passion. They quote Walt Disney and Eleanor Roosevelt to inspire the audience to pursue their dreams fearlessly, acknowledging that failure is part of the journey but should not deter one from striving for improvement.

05:01

🎵 Pursuing Musical Dreams

In the second paragraph, the speaker shares their personal dream of pursuing a career in music, mentioning their current studies in A level music and their unique position as the only student in their academy taking this course. They express their aspiration to perform at prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall or on a global stage. The speaker then transitions to the importance of taking action towards one's dreams, advocating for setting small, realistic goals and persistently moving forward. They quote Les Brown to encourage aiming high and ending with an impassioned call to never be afraid to follow one's dreams. The speaker wishes the audience success in achieving their dreams and thanks them for their attention, followed by applause.

Keywords

💡Dreams

Dreams refer to aspirations or goals people hope to achieve. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that everyone has dreams, no matter how diverse they are, and these dreams are crucial in shaping our lives. The speaker encourages the audience to pursue their dreams with passion and determination, stating that the best things in life stem from ideas and dreams.

💡Passion

Passion is a strong emotion or enthusiasm for something, particularly a goal or dream. The video highlights the importance of passion in making dreams a reality, as it drives motivation and fuels progress. The speaker stresses that without passion, it is difficult to visualize and work towards success.

💡Failure

Failure is defined as the lack of success in achieving a goal. In the video, the speaker acknowledges that failure is an inevitable part of pursuing dreams. However, they emphasize that failure should not be seen as a deterrent but as a learning opportunity that can help a person grow and improve.

💡Success

Success is the achievement of a goal or dream. The speaker encourages the audience to visualize success as a way to stay motivated and focused on their journey. Success, as described, comes from hard work and perseverance, even in the face of obstacles like failure.

💡Courage

Courage is the ability to face difficulties or challenges without fear. The video quotes Walt Disney, stating that all dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. Courage is presented as a necessary trait for anyone aiming to achieve their dreams, especially when facing setbacks.

💡Opportunities

Opportunities refer to chances or favorable conditions that allow individuals to pursue their dreams. The speaker compares opportunities to diamonds, suggesting that they should be seized when they arise, as they help shape and develop existing dreams or inspire new ones.

💡Judgment

Judgment refers to the fear of being criticized or evaluated by others. The speaker notes that many people in the current generation are afraid of being judged for who they are and their aspirations. This societal pressure to conform to unrealistic standards can prevent individuals from following their true dreams.

💡Visualization

Visualization is the act of imagining or picturing success in one’s mind. The speaker suggests that by visualizing success, people are more likely to stay focused and work towards their goals. This mental process helps individuals see the steps they need to take to make their dreams a reality.

💡Small steps

Small steps refer to making gradual progress toward a larger goal. The speaker advises the audience that if they cannot make large strides toward their dreams, they should still move forward in small ways. The message is to never give up and to keep advancing, even if the progress is slow.

💡Authenticity

Authenticity refers to being true to oneself, regardless of societal expectations or pressures. The speaker encourages the audience to rise above societal judgments and remain authentic to their own dreams and aspirations, rather than conforming to flawed perceptions of perfection.

Highlights

Dreams are essential to how we live our lives, illustrating the importance of having dreams regardless of their diversity.

To make anything a reality, you must first dream about it, emphasizing the foundational role of dreams in achieving goals.

The best things in life come from ideas, highlighting the power of human intelligence to manifest ideas into reality.

Success requires assessing things from your unique perspective, stressing the importance of individuality in achieving success.

Dreams should be based on personal interests and passions, encouraging a connection between dreams and personal fulfillment.

Hopes and dreams can be anything, challenging the conventional view of dreams being limited to careers or jobs.

Opportunities are like diamonds, urging the audience to seize them to shape and inspire new dreams.

Walt Disney's quote about dreams coming true with courage is shared, providing inspirational words from a renowned figure.

Having a big dream that scares you a little is exhilarating and can drive ambition and motivation.

The key to starting your journey is visualizing success, suggesting a practical approach to working towards dreams.

Passion is essential and must be channeled into making dreams a reality, underlining the role of passion in success.

Eleanor Roosevelt's quote about the future belonging to dream believers is mentioned, offering a powerful message of hope.

The audience is reminded of their power and strength to pursue dreams, instilling confidence and empowerment.

Failure is acknowledged as a part of the journey, encouraging resilience and learning from setbacks.

The story of Freddie Mercury is shared as an example of overcoming background and achieving dreams through hard work.

The pressure of societal expectations and the importance of staying true to oneself are discussed, addressing a common concern.

The speaker shares their personal dream of pursuing music and the steps they are taking to achieve it, providing a relatable example.

The message to work towards dreams by taking small steps and never giving up is conveyed, offering practical advice for dream pursuit.

Les Brown's quote about aiming high and the potential of missing the moon but landing among the stars is shared, inspiring ambition.

The closing message encourages the audience to fearlessly follow their dreams, providing a powerful conclusion to the speech.

Transcripts

Translator: Reiko Bovee Reviewer: Denise RQ

Please raise your hand

if you have ever dreamed of becoming a famous footballer.

OK, not that many footballers in the house.

Please raise your hand

if you have ever dreamed of becoming a famous politician.

OK.

Please raise your hand

if you have ever dreamed of being a professional musician.

We have musicians in the house.

Keep your hands raised if you are a professional musician.

Very nice.

So, what we did just there is the perfect example

to illustrate how each and every one of us has or has had dreams.

No matter how diverse and different they are,

they are really important to how we live our lives.

So in order to make anything a reality,

you have to dream about it first.

The best things in life stem from ideas, right?

Humans have evolved into such an intelligent species

that we can manifest these ideas and create something amazing.

In order to succeed, you need to assess things

using your own unique perspective.

Think about things that are suited to you, personal, individual.

Think about your dreams as a kid.

I spoke to some of my friends, and I got responses like:

"When I was six, I wanted to be a dragon tamer."

Think about what makes you tick,

based your dreams on something you love, something that you are interested in.

So hopes and dreams can be absolutely anything you want them to be.

They don't have to be conventional;

don't limit them to solely careers or jobs

but just remember that if they are steered that way,

in ten years time, you might be in a job that does not even exist yet,

but it exercises every aspect of the dream that you're dreaming today.

Opportunities are like diamonds: take them when they are given to you

because they help shape and inspire new dreams

or they can develop the dreams you have already.

One of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney:

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Now there is something very exhilarating about having a dream so big,

that scares you a little bit.

It gives you drive, ambition, and it gives you motivation,

something amazing that you can work towards

and the journey itself is so rewarding.

The key to starting your journey is to visualize success.

It's easy to work towards something if you can see yourself achieving it.

For this, you need passion. Lack of passion is fatal.

If you are passionate enough to dream in the first place,

it's essential to channel that power and that enthusiasm

into making your dreams a reality.

Another one of my quotes by Eleanor Roosevelt is that:

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

We are the children of today, the leaders of tomorrow,

and every single one of us is powerful and strong enough

to pursue our dreams.

The results are usually very rewarding,

but you must remember that every coin has two sides.

Don't ever let failure hold you back.

I am just being honest now when I say that sometimes,

failure is going to hit you, and it will hit you really hard.

and it takes every ounce of strength, and determination, and courage,

to get right back up, and look it in the face,

and smile because you've learnt something,

and now you can only make yourself better.

We are all familiar with Freddie Mercury

as the lead vocalist from the rock band, Queen.

But what a lot of people don't know is that this man was born Farrokh Bulsara,

in a place called Zanzibar, which is now a part of Tanzania, in Africa.

He moved to the United Kingdom at the age of eight.

In fact, he studied art in this very venue in West Thames College

and he always used to say to his friends:

"I am what I am. So what?"

And I think what his message here is

no matter what background you come from, no matter what your roots are,

you have potential, so long as you work, and you put the hard work in.

From my own observations,

I have seen that our current generation seem to be absolutely terrified

at the prospect of being judged for who they are and who they want to be.

There is so much pressure from society

to strive for this unrealistic idea of perfection.

In the words of Lock, Stock, and Barrel rise above it and stay true to yourself.

You owe yourself that much to refuse to be confined

to these restrictions of flawed societal perceptions.

If not now, then when?

Tomorrow? Tomorrow never comes.

Next week? You said that last week.

Might make it my New Year's resolution.

How's that working out? Start now.

Now, this got me thinking about some of my own dreams.

I am a very keen musician. I sing and play the piano.

It's my dream to pursue my passion in music in the future.

I'm currently studying A level music.

I am the only student in my academy who is doing so.

I had to fight for that class of one.

I'd like to see myself one day performing somewhere really prestigious

like the Royal Albert Hall, or even globally,

and this is just a step to getting there.

That leads very nicely onto my next point.

So, the quote behind me primarily tells us to work.

"Take small steps if you have to.

If following your dreams entails

making small realistic goals each day, do it.

If you can't run, then walk.

If you can't walk, then crawl.

But, by all means, keep moving forward and never ever give up."

Aim high.

In the words of Les Brown, "Shoot for the Moon.

Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Today, I leave you with this message.

"Never be afraid to follow your dreams. Taste them, conquer them, own them.

believe them, achieve them, and let nothing hold you back."

There is such wonder and fascination in our dreams,

and I wish each and every one of you with all of my heart

that you and your beautiful dreams come true.

Thank you.

(Applause)