Powell closed his Northeastern address with this simple, powerful charge after painting a picture of a world that, despite its challenges, was far better than the one he entered upon his own graduation 54 years earlier. He had described the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of democracy worldwide, and America's enduring role as an inspiration for freedom. Earlier in the speech, Powell had humorously debunked the myth of grand childhood ambitions, joking that he was not standing on a South Bronx street corner at age 12 dreaming of becoming a four-star general. Success, he argued, comes from hard work, belief in yourself, service to others, and never stopping learning. His closing words distilled that philosophy: the only thing that should limit you is the scope of what you dare to imagine. He then wished them luck, said 'God bless you all,' and left the stage to cheers from the class of 2012.