Hope: A simple word with big meaning. It can make people work hard, it can help people get through the day, and it can even inspire people to cause a revolution. It’s the most powerful tool for change, which is why tyrants do their best to snuff out hope as quick as possible.

Why should you care? What does this mean to you? Well hope can be your will to live or help provide you the inspiration to attempt the impossible but hope can also be one the hardest things to have. Well I’m here to tell you to fight the struggle and never give up. Again, I will use examples from music but this is very relevant for anyone, no matter what they do or what they have passion for.

This story starts on Sept. 6, 1984. A man gets on a ship in the hopes of convincing the British of releasing his friend that they had arrested earlier. The British complied with his demands, but since him and his friends gained knowledge of an attack the British had planned on Baltimore they were not let go but instead were allowed to go their vessel and were going to be guarded.

Eight miles away on September 13th the barrage of Fort McHenry began. In the man’s words, he said: “It seemed as though mother earth had opened and was vomiting shot and shell in a sheet of fire and brimstone”. When it was pitch black he only saw red illuminating the night sky. He was certain the British won but when the smoke cleared he saw the American flag flying proud over the fort announcing they had won. He put his thoughts on paper in the form of a popular English tune which later became "The Star Spangled Banner."

You see, Francis Scott Key gained something that day. He gained hope and by gaining hope he wrote something that gives people hope when they hear his simple thoughts that day. Having hope isn’t something necessarily just good for you. Your hope through trying times can inspire others to realize, “Yes it really can be done." Hope is the reason the Americans won against the unstoppable British.

It’s why one person is able to start a social movement or just one person can become something so great. It might be a hard time for you and you feel that there is no way anyone can understand well you have to have the hope that there is and realize it will get better. Nobody can stop you. Your limits only come when you accept them so just don’t. Dream big and always have the hope to think that yes you can.