While it's true that merely having hope isn't enough to reach success, it's wrong to assume that the hope one gains from discovering another was in the same position at a similar age is spurious. Hope is important and valuable in any endeavor, and has been the foundation of many success stories. Nikhil's essay acknowledges this fact, as well as the necessity of hard work, which is often overlooked. So, urRong, it's not wrong of Nikhil to recognize the value of hope and the importance of hard work. The two are not mutually exclusive - Nikhil was trying to provide a suitable balance between them by citing tangible examples.
Furthermore, if you discount the idea of having hope, you discount the very thing that is often the impetus to work hard in the first place. Without hope in some degree or form, many people would have no motivation to progress in their lives. After all, it's hope that often leads people to be successful, not the absence of it. In reality, it's a combination of both; hard work and hope will often lead to success more often than either by itself.
So, Nikhil got it right: there is value in having hope, alongside hard work and focus. He's not suggesting that only hope is needed - he's showing that it can provide inspiration and encourage you to stay on track with your goals. It's hard work that will take you there, but it helps to remember that others were in the same position as you at one point too - this can help keep any goals and aspirations in sight. With a bit of humor, we can conclude that if your hope is so little, then you better urRong and hope for more!