[00:00.51]Full Sail in Spring Wind

[00:04.43]The youth have a wonderful time, brand-new life and promising future.

[00:09.76]Try to face life positively, believe in yourself, be yourself and control yourself.

[00:15.97]Face the reality courageously and fight the difficulties.

[00:20.76]Strive to improve all-around qualities and build healthy and perfect personalities.

[00:27.08]Have the courage to pursue your dreams, inspire yourself with great ideals, and motivate yourself with high spirits.

[00:35.57]Let’s look forward to having a brilliant future!

[00:38.84]1.If the Dream Is Big Enough

[00:43.85]A school was across the street from our home and I would often watch the kids from my window as they played basketball.

[00:51.58]One day, among the children a girl attracted me.

[00:55.06]She seemed so small as she muscled her way through the crowd of boys.

[01:00.07]Running circles around the other kids, she managed to shoot jump shots just over their heads and into the net with no one to stop her.

[01:10.09]Sometimes, I saw her play alone.

[01:12.71]She would practice dribbling and shooting over and over again, until dark.

[01:18.04]One day I asked her why she practiced so much.

[01:22.83]Without hesitation, she said, “I want to go to college. The only way I can go is if I get a scholarship.

[01:31.11]If I were good enough, I would get a scholarship. I like basketball.

[01:36.01]My Daddy told me if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”

[01:41.24]Then she smiled and ran towards the court to go on practicing.

[01:45.37]I watched her through junior high and into high school.

[01:49.51]Every week, she led her varsity team to victory.

[01:53.32]One day in her senior year, I saw her sitting in the grass, head cradled in her arms.

[01:59.75]I went over there and sat down beside her.

[02:03.12]Quietly I asked her what was wrong.

[02:06.82]“Oh, nothing,” She replied softly. “I am just too short.”

[02:13.68]The coach told her that at 5’5”she would probably never get to play for a top ranked college team

[02:22.72]— much less be offered a scholarship — so she should stop dreaming about college.

[02:31.43]She was heartbroken and I felt my own throat tighten as I sensed her disappointment.

[02:38.62]I asked her if she had talked to her dad about it yet.

[02:42.75]She told me that her father said those coaches were wrong.

[02:48.42]They did not understand the power of a dream.

[02:52.12]He told her that if she really wanted to play for a good college,

[02:56.88]if she truly wanted a scholarship, that nothing could stop her except one thing — her own attitude.

[03:03.52]He told her again, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.”

[03:09.51]The next year, as she and her team went to the Northern California Championship game,

[03:14.76]she was seen by a college recruiter, and was offered a full scholarship, to a NCAA women’s basketball team.

[03:23.07]She was going to college, which she had dreamed of and worked toward for all those years.

[03:28.87]It’s true: If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t matter.