Speech About Optimism

For this assignment, we were forced (most against our will), to write a speech on how optimism can help us reach our goals and overcome obstacles. Personally, I don’t believe that optimism is any more important than say, hard work and morals, but my own opinion need not color my writing.
In the tenth edition of Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, optimism is defined as “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcomes”.
And even though Oscar Wilde once said, “Quotation is serviceable substitute for wit.”, I decided to ask two students what they thought optimism was and how it effected the outcomes of their tribulations. I found myself with two very different answers. The first (from a somewhat incompetent seventh grader), was, “It means a learning disability, people are born with it, they can’t help it”. I don’t think she had a clue what we were talking about, but I decided to humor her and keep the answer. The second, from a bright eighth grader, said “I honestly hate optimism. It just creates disappointment if things don’t work out”.
When I asked the young lady to elaborate further, she said “I find optimism to be depressing. Watching people put on a smile and believe everything will work out and then have their world crash around them? We should be more realistic. Odds are, things won’t work out and we’ll live miserably. Why lie to ourselves and be even more disappointed?”
Now, I don’t believe that optimism is always a good thing, but neither do I think that being a pessimist is the way to go. I agree with a statement made by Gil Stern, “Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.” Think of it this way. There’s a big test coming up soon. One student, (an optimist), says “Well golly gee, I’m sure I’ll pass this test because life is filled with rainbows and puppies!” A second student, (a pessimist), tells everyone “I’m going to fail this test because life is unfair and full of storm clouds and spiders.” The third, who just happens to be a realist, says “I’m going to go home and study, so I’ll have a better chance at passing.”
Now, who do you think will most likely pass this hypothetical test? If you said anyone besides the realist, then you’re wrong.
To put these character traits into a new light, lets personify them.
For an optimist, lets think of a goody-two-shoes kind of character. They’re always  telling you to look on the bright side of life and goes around quoting every happy thing they hear.
As for a pessimist, lets draw a bit from every gloomy fellow you’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Sloop shouldered, tired of the idea of happiness, and ready to share with you all of their woebegone memories and wretchedly learned lessons.
For a realist, think of a lesser version of Sherlock Holmes. A good head on their shoulders without the business of downcast thoughts or jubilant notions.
As for obstacles, you should be stable enough to trust yourself to overcome them, and not have to lean on optimism as a crutch. Optimism isn’t going to help you on that test unless you study for it, and the same goes for life. If thinking nice thoughts makes you feel better about yourself, then go for it! But if it just serves as a distraction to things important to you, feel free to leave it in the dust and catapult your own self forward. You shouldn’t feel the need to strive for an earthly Nirvana, but neither should you settle for anything less then what you’re capable of.
In short, by being absolutely set on the idea that everything will go badly seems like a pretty miserable way to live, but staying happy all the time kind of sounds like a drag as well. But by taking the time to focus on things you can change or could do in order to improve your life, you’re more likely to achieve an agreeable outcome.