BY CHERALYN BARRINGTON
Lions’ Pride Staff Writer

President Obama’s education speech, which was meant to be inspiring, was misconstrued by many.
The speech, which was given on September 9 in Arlington, Virginia’s Wakefield High School, was broadcast in all types of educational institutions across America. The school setting was the foundation behind the speech’s controversial effect, because parents feared that their children were being wrongly influenced by our President. Angry parents called schools all over the nation requesting that their children not watch the speech; others stopped their children from attending school entirely.

As he delivered the speech, Obama was personable and offered information about his life and hardships he had to overcome in order to make it to where he is today. He went on to speak about others that would appear to be underprivileged, such as people who come from poor neighborhoods, and a boy fighting brain cancer. He told their stories of success and perseverance, which served as examples of how being driven and hard-working can pay off.

The speech was sprinkled with inspiring stories throughout, and Obama made a point to tell his audience how powerful our minds can be. He found common ground with his audience in showing he understands that life throws us challenges that are difficult to overcome. He makes it clear, however, that these hardships can be endured and surpassed as though they were never there to begin with. He used the example that America always presses on even after it has gone through difficult times in the past, such as The Great Depression.

Many people have questioned Obama’s intentions and feel that he should not have a say in what their children do. Within his speech, Obama did not do anything except make suggestions to point our future in the right direction. Obama suggested that children try their best in school and strive to reach their full potential. He tells the children that to become a professional in the working world, most people must go to college. It is good for children to keep this fact in mind, because having a goal to focus on and work towards can be very beneficial. If children satisfy their potential in school, and they have the grades to show for it, then their options will be left open should they choose post-secondary education.

If Obama was lying to the youth population of America, then controversy would have just cause. He is not misleading, but instead, doing the exact opposite by encouraging and inspiring people to excel. This is one of the best messages the President could be sending out. Most parents already encourage their children to be the best they can be, so the uproar from upset parents just does not seem to make sense. If this message is indeed a positive one that many parents already teach their children, then what’s the harm in having it solidified by the most influential person in America?

Furthermore, many complain that Obama’s promise of “change” is not favorable for our country, and also that no changes have been made. Obama got elected as President of the United States upon this very notion of “change” and is working towards it with this speech. The only constant is change, and leaving our country in stagnation leaves no room for growth. Youth are literally the future of our nation, and Obama is focusing on the root which change stems from by speaking to them.

Although the speech stirred some controversy, it was well-spoken and made many spectacular points. Obama inspired our youth to consider the fact that what the nation does affects each and every one of us; but more importantly, what each and every one of us does affects the nation as a whole. We should focus on what the individual can do for the country, as well as what the country can do for the individual.

In the words of Barak Obama, “Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.”