Our theme for this year's festivities Dreams and Challenges of Asian Pacific Americans speaks to the many generations of Asian Pacific Americans who worked hard to overcome economic hardship racism and other barriers in their pursuit of the American dream.

I might be writing what people expect me to write writing from that place where I might be ruled by economic considerations. To overcome that I started working with my dreams because I'm not so censored when I use dream material.

It's something I want to overcome. And my kids are scared to death to fly. I want them to witness me overcome it.

If we can't face death we'll never overcome it. You have to look it straight in the eye. Then you can turn around and walk back out into the light.

There has to be this pioneer the individual who has the courage the ambition to overcome the obstacles that always develop when one tries to do something worthwhile especially when it is new and different.

To go to hospitals and see people fight and overcome cystic fibrosis or cancer or any number of illnesses is to see courage that is humbling. And athletes constantly need to be humbled.

With faith and courage generations of Armenians have overcome great suffering and proudly preserved their culture traditions and religion and have told the story of the genocide to an often indifferent world.

When we read stories of heroes we identify with them. We take the journey with them. We see how the obstacles almost overcome them. We see how they grow as human beings or gain qualities or show great qualities of strength and courage and with them we grow in some small way.

Good courage in a bad affair is half of the evil overcome.

I have mentally overcome situations most of you would be terrified to ever attempt: heights fire needles spiders snakes angry monkeys being shot being hit by a car going blind - you name it I have been in a situation where I have had to mentally overcome my inherent fears to do my job.