Obama encourages brighter students for a brighter future

"My Education, My Future." This message set the background for President Obama’s inspirational address to students across the nation, in which he encouraged children to take an active responsibility over their education. Originating from Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, the speech was broadcast live for schools across the country via the White House website and C-SPAN on Tuesday afternoon.

The address had sparked a large amount of controversy from conservatives in the days leading up to the event, as concerned parents and school officials wished to shield their children from hearing the President’s political agenda. As a result, the broadcast was designated a voluntary affair, allowing parents and schools to decide whether or not their students would in fact participate.

In the end, it seems these restrictions on the occasion were granted far more attention than was needed. Obama’s message remained relatively neutral, focusing first and foremost on inspiring children to "get serious" about their studies in the year to come. Even Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer, who last week accused the president of trying to "indoctrinate America’s children to his socialist agenda," said he had no problem with letting his children watch. "It’s a good speech," Greer said Monday. "It encourages kids to stay in school and the importance of education, and I think that’s what a president should do."

Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Obama spoke to the children about the importance of a solid education in securing a better future, both for the students themselves and for their country. He stated, "the future of America depends on you. What you’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."

After all the controversy surrounding the event, the presidential pep talk could seem somewhat anticlimactic. The trademark "stay in school" motto used by every public official is the sole message here, but it is a message that when delivered correctly still gets results. Obama spoke to the students on their level, referencing children’s icons such as J.K. Rowling, the author of the popular Harry Potter series, and NBA superstar Michael Jordan as examples of the success one can reach if he or she is persistent in working towards that goal. He poetically stated, "the story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best."

President Obama’s personal approach hopefully enabled him to connect with his audience, giving students the inspiration to strive for success this school year. Obama stated "Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide." Although his policies are often in question, these statements of encouragement and support for our nation’s students are something we all should be able to agree upon.