President Obama Delivers Back to School Speech
By Emily Rasmussen
Philadelphia- Yesterday President Barack Obama gave his annual back to school speech to the students of the Julia R. mastermind Laboratory Demonstration School.
Upon being introduced, Obama was received with an enthusiastic crowd to say the least. The audience was standing, clapping, screaming, and cheering. Behind him, the back drop reads, “My Education, My Future”.
The governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell; Philadelphia Mayor, Michael Nutter; Congressman Chaka Fattah; and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, were among the audience. As well as the school’s superintendent, Arlene Ackerman, and the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
Obama’s speech was full of encouraging and inspiring words. From discussing the current recession, “You know what’s going on in the news and you also know what’s going on in some of your own families.” To discussing his own mistakes made in his youth, “I wasn’t always disciplined…I made my share of mistakes.” Obama had a way of implementing a feeling of motivation into you. His words making you want to go do an extra cram session in the library for that big history test, or take that honors course you had been pondering over. He certainly knew what to say to pluck at the heart-strings of the audience. “Your future is in your hands. Your life is what you make of it. And nothing…is beyond your reach, so long as you’re willing to dream big, so long as you’re willing to work hard.” Obama said. “You’ve got to show up to school on time. You’ve got to pay attention in your class. You’ve got to do your homework. You’ve got to study for exams. You’ve got to stay out of trouble. You’ve got to instill a sense of excellence in everything that you do. That kind of discipline, that kind of drive, that kind of hard work, is absolutely essential for success.”
Of all the inspiring words spoken by Obama, none hit closer to home than this, “Life is Precious,” Obama said, “…part of what makes it so wonderful is its diversity, that all of us are different.” How much more concise and simple can one get. Those simple `words, pretty much sum up the whole of his speech. “Nobody gets to write your destiny but you.” Obama said. Well kids, I think it’s time to go hit the books!
