barack obama inspirational speech essay

‘This is your generation’s world to shape’: 3 inspiring words of advice by Barack Obama to the Class of 2020

If there’s anyone who can offer inspiring speech amidst a pandemic, recession, and ongoing protests against systemic racism in the US, it’s Barack Obama. Recently, for the “Graduate Together: High School Class of 2020 Commencement,” organised by XQ Institute, the former US president offered several words of wisdom and advice to the Class of 2020.

True to his legacy, the gifted orator’s speech offered a balm against bleak data. In the US, around 20 million are without jobs, despite May jobs report on June 5 recording a sharp 2.5 million increase in employment . It is this troubled job market graduates will enter, but Obama urged them not to give up on their goals.

College is no longer a guarantee; getting a job will be tougher. Even the well-off are dealing with “massive uncertainty, he said.

This means this year’s graduating class will have to grow up faster than some generations, but there is no need for fear. Instead, look back on the country’s history, he urged.

“America’s gone through tough times before — slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression and 9/11. And each time we came out stronger, usually because a new generation, young people like you, learned from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better.”

It’s a sobering pick-me-up that fits these uncertain times — much better than the message “This is a rocket ship!” sends.

Here are more highlights from his commencement speech:

Be part of the solution, not the problem

Obama urged students to ground themselves in values that last — such as honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity and respect for others.

He said, “You won’t get it right every time, you’ll make mistakes like we all do. But if you listen to the truth that’s inside yourself, even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, people will notice. They’ll gravitate towards you. And you’ll be part of the solution instead of part of the problem.”

Graduates of Matanzas High School receive their diplomas on the track in their cars at Daytona International Speedway on May 31, 2020 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Source: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images/AFP

Graduates have a unique opportunity to step up

Adults in charge don’t really know what they are doing. And they don’t have all the answers. They’re not even asking the right questions.

“So, if the world’s going to get better, it’s going to be up to you,” Obama said.

This is a scary realisation, but he hoped it would inspire instead.

“With all the challenges this country faces right now, nobody can tell you ‘no, you’re too young to understand’ or ‘this is how it’s always been done’. Because with so much uncertainty, with everything suddenly up for grabs, this is your generation’s world to shape.”

Build your community

Obama pressed that being a community where people can lean on one another is more important than ever. Hard times make people cynical and selfish, but that’s not how “big things” will be achieved, he said.

“But if we’re going to get through these difficult times; if we’re going to create a world where everybody has the opportunity to find a job, and afford college; if we’re going to save the environment and defeat future pandemics, then we’re going to have to do it together.”

He also urged students to stand up for each other’s rights and leave behind the old ways of thinking that divided the US community in the past — such as sexism, racial prejudice, status and greed — and set the world on a different path.

Protesters march through downtown, some wearing graduation caps on June 5, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Protests across the country continue into their second weekend after recent police-related incidents resulting in the deaths of African-Americans Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minneapolis. Source: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images AFP

Obama ended his speech by offering the help of the Obama Foundation, which will give “skills and support” to lead in their communities or to connect with young leaders around the world.

“But the truth is that you don’t need us to tell you what to do. Because in so many ways, you’ve already started to lead.

“Congratulations, Class of 2020. Keep making us proud.”

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The Best Speech of Obama’s Presidency

Subscribe to governance weekly, william a. galston william a. galston ezra k. zilkha chair and senior fellow - governance studies.

December 10, 2009

At Oslo, in circumstances verging on a speechwriter’s nightmare, Barack Obama gave by far the best address of his presidency. A thoughtful meditation on war, peace, and human nature, the speech also represents a promising reorientation of his administration’s foreign policy. The question now is whether he will adjust his policies to match his words.

What struck me most favorably about the speech was Obama’s moral realism–about the world, and about his own role within it. Forcefully, but with dignity and restraint, he distinguished his responsibilities from those of King and Gandhi, who led nonviolently as private citizens. “Evil does exist in the world,” he declared, and as long as it does, war is a moral possibility, sometimes a moral necessity. And not only to defeat evil; “the instruments of war,” he said, “do have a role to play in preserving the peace.”

The president spoke out unapologetically in defense of America’s role as a peacemaker and peacekeeper: “The world must remember that it was not simply international institutions–not just treaties and declarations–that brought stability to a post-World War II world. Whatever mistakes we have made, the plain fact is this: the United States of America has helped underwrite global security for more than six decades with the blood of our citizens and the strength of our arms.”

Obama directly confronted global public skepticism–about America’s role and about war itself. “I understand why war is not popular,” he said. “But I also know this: the belief that peace is desirable is rarely enough to achieve it. Peace requires responsibility. Peace entails sacrifice.”

He went on to describe the kind of peace America seeks: “Peace is not merely the absence of visible conflict. Only a just peace based upon the inherent rights and dignity of every individual can truly be lasting. It was this insight that drove drafters of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights after the Second World War. In the wake of devastation, they recognized that if human rights are not protected, peace is a hollow promise.”

But all too often, Obama continued, their principles are ignored. In some countries, leaders falsely suggest that human rights are merely aspects of the West, foreign to and imposed on non-Western cultures. In America, realists and idealists contend endlessly against one another.

“I reject this choice,” the president declared. “I believe that peace is unstable where citizens are denied the right to speak freely or worship as they please, choose their own leaders, or assemble without fear. Pent up grievances fester, and the suppression of tribal and religious identity can lead to violence. We also know that the opposite is true: only when Europe became free did it finally find peace.” These truths have practical implications for the conduct of American foreign policy. “Even as we respect the unique culture and traditions of different countries,” Obama promised, “America will be a voice for those aspirations that are universal.”

The question is how best to do this. The president defended his policy of engaging repressive regimes, which he characterized as painstaking diplomacy. But up to now, I believe (and I am far from alone) that his administration has been at best timid and laggard in giving voice to the aspirations of suppressed peoples struggling for the political rights he defends as fundamental. If his Oslo speech is the harbinger of a new and better balance between private engagement and public firmness, and between carrots and sticks, the future of his foreign policy looks bright.

U.S. Foreign Policy

Governance Studies

Mireya Solís

April 5, 2024

Vanda Felbab-Brown, Jeffrey Feltman, Sharan Grewal, Steven Heydemann, Marvin Kalb, Patricia M. Kim, Tanvi Madan, Suzanne Maloney, Allison Minor, Bruce Riedel, Natan Sachs, Valerie Wirtschafter

Ryan Hass, Colin Kahl

Joint Press Conference with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

© Copyright 2001-Present. American Rhetoric by Michael E. Eidenmuller All rights reserved.

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Reflections on Obama

Readers describe how they will remember the president as a man and as a leader.

Just as Jackie Robinson was perfectly cast for his historic breakthrough, so, too, was Barack Obama. He emerged from relative obscurity as a beacon of hope and change. And, despite the roadblocks and setbacks, he remains so. The Obama presidency has been consequential. Especially impressive is his bold leadership on some of the most significant issues of our time, from health care reform to climate change to a nuclear deal with Iran that was once unimaginable. But it is Mr. Obama the man I will remember most. The personal indignities to which he was subjected, from “birtherism” to other acts of disrespect and contempt, are a disgrace. Yet he never lost his own dignity or grace. It was an “Amazing Grace” epitomized by his leading this hymn at the funeral for nine African-Americans massacred in Charleston. Now, with his successor inspiring more fear than hope, President Obama is urging us not to despair. Rather than apocalyptic, he’s still optimistic. Let’s follow his lead. Those of us who share his values should continue to work tirelessly toward the progressive ideals he has espoused. Barack Obama’s story will always represent the unique promise of America.

SAM BROMBERG, Delray Beach, Fla.

President Obama’s domestic legacy is one of thoughtful policy successes, and a failure to publicize and celebrate those achievements. This contradiction is best illustrated by the fact that the majority of Americans polled opposed Obamacare despite overwhelming public support for its individual provisions. More than $800 billion was spent under the 2009 stimulus package, but ordinary Americans couldn’t point to a single bridge built or job saved by it. Mr. Obama, a cerebral technocrat, seemed to operate on the assumption that his nuanced policy solutions would speak for themselves. Despite his soaring speeches, he never learned how to convince Americans that his agenda was working. Mr. Obama’s shortcomings in flaunting his achievements are further accentuated by his successor’s flair for it. The economy added 156,000 jobs in December, but it was 800 jobs at a Carrier factory in Indiana that captured the national spotlight.

SAM SKOVGAARD, Denver

“Shed tears without apology”

I will remember President Obama for his dignity, his humor, his eloquence and especially as the president who shed tears without apology or embarrassment. In that speech in which he discussed “common sense” gun control measures, he recalled the victims of Sandy Hook and he cried . And I weep now as I write about this memory.

SUSAN SCANDRETT, Oakland, Calif.

President Obama’s accomplishments in office are numerous, from saving the economy to passing comprehensive health care and financial reform. Yet when the history books describe his time in office, President Obama’s legacy will be defined most significantly by his record on climate change. He took office at a true crossroads for our planet: a failure to act could push the world past the tipping point, leading to a cascade effect of irreversible consequences. Mr. Obama met the moment boldly, taking a series of critical steps at home — including unprecedented investments in clean energy, the largest protections of public lands and waters in history, and the first-ever national carbon pollution standards for power plants — that served as a foundation for international action such as the bilateral agreement with China and the Paris Agreement. Although the incoming administration seems determined to look backward on environmental issues, many of the president’s changes are here to stay. Future generations will be forever grateful for his leadership.

JACK DIMATTEO, Deerfield, Ill.

Barack Obama came into office with the possibility of being another L.B.J. or F.D.R. He probably could have got a single-payer health plan; instead he settled for the Republican plan of subsidized insurance. He could have tried to send crooked bankers to jail, as F.D.R. and even Ronald Reagan did; instead it was “let’s just move on.” He could have saved people’s homes; instead he bailed out the bankers who made (and profited immensely from) obviously bad loans. He could have said, “Iraq shows we need to keep our hands off the Muslim world.” Instead he destabilized Libya and Syria with our worse than useless intervention. Yes, he had a tough Republican Congress to work with, but the Republican victories were to a great extent the result of his own failed policies. Like Jimmy Carter, Mr. Obama was a good man, but a poor president.

HARRY M. CORRIGAN, Hendersonville, N.C.

“The president’s hair does feel like mine!”

When I think of all the images of President Obama that come to mind when thinking of his legacy, I immediately think of the photo taken in the Oval Office in which the president lets a 5-year-old black boy touch his head because this young man just has to find out if the president’s hair feels like his. It’s such an unexpectedly sweet moment in which the president almost appears to bow before this young man so that he can feel that, yes, the president’s hair does feel like mine! With that one move President Obama showed his humanity, his parenting skills, his sensitivity and his humility.

CHRISTINE LAVIN, Geneva, N.Y.

While many journalists are pointing to President Obama’s decency and scandal-free administration as major takeaways, what I have been most impressed with is his international legacy. Having lived many years in Asia, where the United States is often seen as brash and arrogant, I have appreciated how he shows genuine respect for other cultures and religions. He has emphasized dialogue, partnership and diplomacy, such as the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Agreement on climate and relations with Cuba. Furthermore, he has been restrained in the use of military force, which has allowed us to allocate resources to domestic priorities and has greatly reduced combat deaths. “Don’t do stupid stuff” is not a bad mantra.

PHYLLIS SATO, Virginia Beach

I will remember Barack Obama as president in a flurry of images and sounds — body surfing in Hawaii, wiping a tear speaking of the Sandy Hook victims, singing “Amazing Grace,” announcing Osama bin Laden’s demise, dancing with Michelle on inauguration night, holding hands with his daughters, signing the health care act, showing off Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, shooting that three-point swish, doing really funny stand-up comedy, resuscitating our American automobile industry, placing medals of honor on soldiers, and always keeping it truly real. Most of all I will remember his presidency as one of a dedicated family man exuding grace, intelligence, humor, wit, compassion, thoughtfulness and fierce commitment to ideals and principles. And, his smile.

SAM BIRENBAUM, Malibu, Calif.

“Restored in me a sense of pride”

I am despondent to see the end of Barack Obama’s presidency. Considering the absolute mess he inherited from the previous administration (endless war, the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, America’s global reputation in shambles, etc.), I am sure future historians will rank his time in the Oval Office as the era in which the country took a huge step toward becoming the nation we aspire to be. He and his family restored class, dignity and thought into a White House that, for the prior 16 years (eight years of George W. Bush and eight years of Bill Clinton) had trashed those values and made me embarrassed to be an American. He was not perfect, but Barack Obama restored in me a sense of pride for who we are, what we should strive for on the world stage and how we should operate as a nation in the complicated, messy world of the 21st century. I have no doubt that he will be remembered as a kind, refined intellect and a patriot, who believes to his core in the values our nation expounds. We would be a better country if our citizenry practiced those values, as much as Barack Obama lived them.

PHILLIP J. STOBER, New York

After Barack Obama’s Democratic convention speech in 2004, when people started telling me to watch this rising political star, I responded: “Don’t waste my time. Do you really think Americans would vote for a black man, let alone one named Hussein? Are you kidding me?” Boy, was I wrong. Mr. Obama’s election proved to me that, mixed in with our less savory tendencies, Americans have the capacity to be intelligent, tolerant and inclusive. The very image of this man as our president has provided continuous inspiration and affirmation of America’s goodness to me, my family and friends throughout the highs and lows of his tenure.

FRED MORGENSTERN, Charlotte, N.C.

“In him, we saw ourselves”

“We’re going to have little brown kids in the White House,” said my husband. I squeezed his hand, speechless. A knot had formed in my throat. It was Nov. 4, 2008, and Barack Obama faced us for the first time as our president-elect, nodding his head slowly, as if acknowledging the weight, the majesty, of the moment. We knew he was imperfect. Over the next eight years, we watched him navigate an increasingly fractious geopolitical atmosphere; fretted when he offered no easy answers. His landmark achievements — the stimulus bill, Obamacare, the Paris climate accord, diplomatic relations with Cuba — none of these passed without severe backlash. Yet at no point in time did we question his unwavering devotion to us. In him, we saw ourselves: brown, othered. Mr. Obama’s presidency was the living embodiment of a dream we were once promised. If we could live in a world where he was president, maybe America saw, respected, even loved us. For a brief, magical time, that “maybe” felt like reality.

BEVERLY TAN MURRAY, Miami

Despite his admirable, almost superhuman restraint, I will sadly remember President Obama’s tragic moment of self-indulgence, the night he skewered Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents Dinner. For all the times the president courageously bit his lip in the face of unfair and often hateful criticism, he chose that one time to get even. We are now paying the price for that personal moment of revenge. I will sincerely miss President Obama, but I cannot forgive him for putting himself before the country that one time. He knew better. When they go low, we go high. Always.

TOM SEIGEL, Weston, Conn.

Making gays “feel truly at home”

Barack Obama is the first president to make openly gay and lesbian men and women and transgender individuals feel truly at home in our national government. Hundreds of openly gay and lesbian men and women now serve in important positions throughout the federal government in cabinet agencies, in the judiciary, as United States attorneys and as ambassadors. Pride organizations can be found at the Justice Department, the C.I.A. and elsewhere. The president also ably worked with Congress in the bipartisan repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” My earnest hope is that the president-elect and the new Congress will embrace this historic legacy.

RICK VALELLY, Swarthmore, Pa.

The writer is a professor of political science at Swarthmore College.

Four years ago, I was a young, brooding, biracial (Mexican-Palestinian) man trying to find myself and my place in America. All of this, while adjusting from West to East Coast culture and reconnecting with my Muslim father, a foreign government official, whose absence was ever present. President Obama went down an almost identical path, giving me both the road map to navigate through my own journey and the destination itself — a role in his administration. It is because of him that I finally found my place in America.

AMMAR CAMPA-NAJJAR, San Diego

The writer was a public affairs officer in the Department of Labor.

I will remember Barack Obama as a basically good man who overplayed his hand his first two years in office and was ineffectual the rest of his term. A politician who considers himself above the down-and-dirty “politics” of the job isn’t going to get much done. And his foreign policy decisions will haunt the world for years to come.

STEVE CRESCENZO, Chicago

“Mr. Obama never lost faith”

Although President Obama’s major policy achievements — passage of the Affordable Care Act and the Iran nuclear deal — are now in danger under a Republican president and Congress, there can be no erasing the moral standards he established. No president in modern American history has faced such venomous (and unwarranted) political opposition from his first day in office. Yet in the face of such hostility (some with racial overtones), Mr. Obama never lost faith in his countrymen and always acted on behalf of the many rather than the few. He rescued the economy, led international efforts to slow climate change, and struck at terrorists from the skies to minimize American casualties. He took important steps to protect the environment. Sadly, he was unable to pass immigration reform or gun-control measures, but not for lack of trying. He opened new doors to the Pacific Rim, but he blinked when he should have punished the Syrian government for using chemical weapons. Though he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, he did not forge a single peace agreement. Despite making only incremental progress, Mr. Obama will long remain inspirational — his intelligence, grace, compassion and eloquence offering a beacon to a troubled world.

DANIEL BERNSTEIN, Sacramento

A memorable part of President Obama’s legacy will be of a man who knew how to laugh at himself. It’s not that he didn’t take the job seriously. He was serious about his responsibilities to all of us. But he also knew that much of what he had to deal with each day wasn’t earth-shattering stuff. It was ceremonial or trivial, and he soldiered his way through it. He was also a very committed family man. He partnered with his wife, Michelle, to keep his daughters largely out of public scrutiny. He maintained his family’s values, like the dinner hour spent together. In so many ways, he was easy to relate to, even though none of us had lived a life that was in any way comparable to his. I will miss him!

JULIE KING, Bloomington, Ind.

I was 8 years old when President Obama took office in 2009. I watched the inauguration all the adults in my life were calling “historic.” I might not have understood exactly why, but I knew that day in history mattered, and maybe not just because of his race. President Obama would be the one to make our government feel human to me. He warmed up the cold bureaucracy of Washington, he made me feel like my government was on my side, and he personally was working tirelessly just for me. Here was a president who delivered arguably the funniest White House Correspondents Dinner speech ever, here was a dad who made jokes that made me groan out of sympathy for Malia and Sasha. Here was the leader who never seemed to give up. His legacy to me is his tireless warmth, his unfailing optimism and his belief that government is good.

ELLA PETERSON, Moorestown, N.J.

“The folly of Obamacare”

I will remember President Obama as the man who caused enormous financial hardship to my family through the ill-conceived Affordable Care Act. We have struggled for the past two years to meet premiums and co-payments for health insurance coverage that did not meet even our most basic needs. Our premiums and deductibles totaled $18,528 in 2016. It has adversely affected our ability to live, save and plan for a comfortable retirement. For me, any other positives of the Obama presidency have been overshadowed by the folly of Obamacare.

TULA KAVADIAS, Munster, Ind.

Because of President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, I got my dream job working for the State of New York and am able to do meaningful work that makes a difference every day. The money and security from that job allowed my husband and me to finally start our family after 10 years of marriage and to buy a better home. President Obama made the American dream come true for me, and I will forever be grateful.

KATHERINE KIYANITSA, Albany

I have many good memories of President Obama, but the best was just a dream. We were in the White House kitchen, washing dishes. “People don’t realize that this is the biggest part of the job,” he told me as he handed me another dish to dry. “Every day, you gotta take care of the necessary things.” And he smiled, letting me know he no more minded tending to tedious details like that, than about handling the big problems. He’s the only president I’ve ever dreamed about, and it was often. He always came as a friend. Sometimes he let me know he had my back. Sometimes I told him I had his. And how much I appreciated all he has done.

SANDRA LYNN SPARKS, Mount Airy, Ga.

“An exemplary husband and father”

I will remember Barack Obama as the most admirable man to hold the office of the presidency in my lifetime (70 years). My admiration has nothing to do with his policy successes or failures. No, my admiration is based on his deportment as a human being. He is an exemplary husband and father; he treats others with respect; he pursues the greater good over personal gain; his actions are guided by strong ethical and moral convictions; he receives criticism with grace and equanimity; he has a disarming sense of humor; he is resilient; he finds joy in living; he is stubbornly hopeful and optimistic. In short, he is the human being I have always endeavored to become.

BOB GUELICH, Edina, Minn.

Having voted for President Obama twice, I have become more and more discouraged by both his domestic and foreign policies. The Affordable Care Act has been a well-predicted disaster. The stimulus package was mostly squandered without a noticeable upward effect. On the foreign front, we have seen Mr. Obama’s laughable Syrian red line; his “reset” button with Russia, which turned that country into an enemy; his endless war in Afghanistan; the disastrous nuclear agreement with Iran; and, the most serious of his failures, allowing North Korea to possess nuclear arms and delivery systems that pose an existential threat to the United States. No wonder Donald Trump won.

ALAN J. RUDE, New York

“Unquestionably cool”

Watching President Obama at the Kennedy Center Honors show on television every December has reliably put a lump in my throat. The way he grinned, and grooved, and shook his head in time with the music, eyes closed, and mouthed the words — unquestionably cool. But the lump came from seeing his palpable pleasure in the extraordinary range of talent being celebrated, the diversity of Americans’ creativity on glorious display.

ABIGAIL PESSEN, New York

My heart is truly heavy as President Obama leaves office. His intellect, strength, sense of humor and demonstrated love of his family have filled that empty space in my heart for someone who looks like me who could stand as a public model to the country of the best in my community. Yes, we have millions of others like him in my community — alas, unsung heroes who are sidelined by the media’s constant barrage of negative, stereotyped characterizations of African-American men. So for me, his legacy is the fact that my family, and I’m sure others like mine, will be able to tell the story of an African-American man with courage and grit who served as president of the United States — without a hint of scandal — for eight years. He rose above efforts to delegitimize his presence from day one and managed an economic turnaround. I can say that and much more to my grandchildren. Thank you, Mr. President.

CAROL M. TAYLOR, Falls Village, Conn.

I will always remember President Obama for his eloquence and the way he could move an audience, as well as for his compassion and empathy. Breaking into “Amazing Grace” at the funeral of those gunned down at Emanuel A.M.E. Church. Offering up words of healing at the funeral of Dallas police officers. Honoring those killed and injured with Representative Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona. Crying with the families of Sandy Hook. And inspiring audiences here and abroad with uplifting messages of hope and respect for American values.

MARY E. PRIER, Norfolk, Va.

Before Obamacare, I went nine straight years without health insurance. I was fairly healthy and the cost of insurance was too high. So when the individual mandate forced me to buy health insurance, I reluctantly signed up and received a generous subsidy on my health plan. Then I had a stroke and the insurance covered 100 percent of the hospital and related medical costs. I received excellent care and have completely recovered. But that’s not how I will best remember President Obama. I will remember him as a rock-solid decision maker. I always had confidence that he would always do the right thing. There is no one on this earth that I respect more.

ROBERT PUTNAM, Placerville, Calif.

“One of our great presidents”

I’m a Southern white woman who, before October, had been a registered Republican for 40 years. I will remember President Obama as the most ethical, brilliant, caring president in my lifetime. Hands down. He restored dignity and trust in the United States when the world regarded us with disdain and suspicion after the Iraq war. He made us look at ourselves and question how we could continue trying to justify withholding basic rights to other Americans. He insisted that health care wasn’t a luxury and that all people should be treated fairly. He called out hypocrisy, asking people not to hide behind religious fervor to prop up prejudices. I have no doubt that history will show that President Obama was one of our greatest presidents.

LISA BROOKING, New Orleans

Barack Obama reminds me of what it is to be a grown-up, when it is often the case that there are few grown-ups in the room. When there’s glory to be had, he doesn’t claim it all for himself. When there’s blame to be identified, he takes his share rather than trying to unload it all on someone else. When there’s a problem to be solved, he consults the opinions of others; he does his homework; he understands that every issue is part of an ecology of the whole, one thing relating to all the others in some way that needs to be discerned. He works more than one step ahead. He is capable of empathy, sympathy, compassion, patience and personal discipline. I will miss him terribly.

RONALD P. BYARS, Lexington, Ky.

I will remember President Obama as a historic first black president, with class and intellect and humor and grace. He is a president I was proud of. He moved forward on the progressive social issues that I strongly believe in. In the end though, I will remember him most as the president who betrayed Israel by abstaining from the United Nations resolution that will embolden the Palestinians to continue to reject any and all prospects of peace with Israel.

EVE BIRNBAUM, Tel Aviv

What I will remember and miss the most about President Obama is watching the working of his mind. Every time the president spoke you could just see his vast and extraordinary intelligence in his eyes and on his face. I always felt I was actually watching that extraordinary brain of his in motion.

MARGOT HEAD, New York

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17 of President Obama's most inspirational quotes

From his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004 that made him a household name to his farewell address on Tuesday, President Barack Obama has captivated the world with his words.

Hailed as one of the greatest presidential orators in modern history (although the title is quite contentious ), Obama has a knack for public speaking even his political opponents can recognize.

As Obama prepares to leave office, we've compiled 17 of his most memorable inspirational quotes. Enjoy:

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Barack Obama’s Speech as a Rhetorical Example Essay

Policy is the leading power in the modern world. Having obtained the great importance, now it influences souls and minds of the people all over the world. Rhetoric, however, is the main weapon of the policy. The leading politicians cannot ignore such a powerful remedy in the war for the electorate. That is why nowadays, every self-respecting politician should have the deep knowledge of the rhetoric and all rhetorical devices in order to make his speeches sound convincing. Barak Obama is one of the politicians of that kind. Having the great power concentrated in his arms, he should accept the unabated attention to his person. His every world is analyzed by the thousands of people that is why he should be especially caring about what to say. The good example of his oratory can be found in his famous election speech in Chicago. Understanding the importance of the event, as “it is hard to imagine a more culturally significant event in the history of our country than the election of an African American president” (Auger para. 3), he had to do his best. The speech was delivered soon after the announcement of Obamas election as a president of the USA. Obama was giving a speech in front of the thousands of his electors, however, addressing not only them, but the whole American nation. The new elected president was not only saying thank you to all his supporters, he also described the common state of the USA, outlining the future policy and making some historical parallels. The main message of the speech was clearly understood – the president outlined his further steps in the development of the country, he would make. The place and the time were chosen excellently, because people, being in the state of euphoria after the victory of their candidate, were not scared by some troubling signs in Obamas speech, accepted the content at once. The speech was not the improvisation, of course, as the times of the spontaneously proclaimed speeches had already passed. That is why every paragraph was thoroughly thought through and conveyed a certain meaning. The great number of different rhetorical devices, used it the speech, helped to achieve the planned effect. One of the most frequently used is, of course, the repetition, including the famous phrase “Yes, We can.” However, it is not the only example. Almost all of the stylistic devices are used here. Barak Obamas winning speech, filled with a great number of contrasts, rhetorical questions, triples and with the usage of the eco effect, is a good example of the benefits of the rhetorical skills in policy.

The speech is very emotional, still it can be divided into two parts – the relatively calm beginning and very strained, patriotic ending, where the orator proclaims the great purpose and the great importance of the USA and American nation in the whole.

The speech is organized into several paragraphs, connected with each other only within the whole speech. They are quite independent and logically completed, one paragraph does not come out from another.

The language of the Obamas speech is rather emotionally evocative. He specially uses keen problems, actual themes or rhetorical questions in order to make people express their emotions, while following his words. Being the experienced orator, Obama knew exactly what words and phrases would trigger the great expression of feelings. From the beginning of his speech he starts evoking people, by espousing the idea of the American dream:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.(“Full text: Obama’s victory speech” para.1)

In this starting paragraph we can also see the first rhetoric devices that later become widely used in the rest of the speech and which are peculiar for Barak Obamas rhetoric in the whole. First of all it is repetition. The use of the constant recurrence of the pronoun “who” serves for several purposes. First of all it helps to draw rather scattered peoples attention to his words. Constantly using this pronoun, Obama makes an impression of addressing everyone personally, making each person in the crowd subconsciously react to his appeal. The second rhetoric device, peculiar for this speech, and Obamas rhetoric in the whole, is the rhetorical question. The question that does not need any answer is a strong device and it has the great influence on the auditory. Asking the questions, that do not need answers, the speaker achieves the great effect. The audience believes in his words, as if he is saying total truth, which can never be doubted, and these questions just underline it. Obama, with the help of these three rhetorical questions, appeals to the patriotism of the citizens of the USA, making any other emotions insufficient.

One more rhetoric device, Obamas speech is overflowed with, is the triple. There are about 20 triples in this speech. The emotional range of this device is very wide. Using it in the speech he can outline 3 points or touch 3 problematic issues at the same time. From the other hand, all problems and issues, mentioned in these triples, lead to the only thought or conclusion. The illusion of the presence of the other possible versions or problems just conceals the idea, the speaker wants to be heard and remembered. The second paragraph contains the bright example of the usage of these devices – here we can observe the repetition of “It’s the answer…”(“Full text: Obama’s victory speech” para. 2), and not occasionally it is repeated for the three times – we can see another triple in action. However, in this very paragraph, we can see some new rhetoric device introduced – “It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled” (“Full text: Obama’s victory speech” para.3). In that lines Obama widely uses contrast, opposing one group to another, underlining the differences in their representatives, but stressing their common belonging to the USA. By the way, one more triplet can be found here (“Asian, Native American”). Playing on the contrast, Obama wants to underline the national-wide character of the election, and as a result, his national-wide victory.

Of course, we cannot but mention the most famous part of this speech – Obamas famed repetition of the phrase “Yes. We can.” (“Full text: Obama’s victory speech” para.1). This phrase can be described as Obamas motto at that time – “‘Yes We Can’ was a central trope in his bid for the presidency” (Kephart and Rafferty para. 33). Having become more than just a phrase from the speech, it even obtained the symbolic meaning. This repetition was saved for the last part of Obamas speech. Outlining the key points of the American history, the problems and challenges it had to face and achievements it had made, tracing them in the context of the life of 106 years old Ann Nixon Cooper, using analogies and extended anecdote to outline the changes, Obama ends every passage with the optimistic and confirming “Yes. We can”. This way the speech organized, resulted in joining of the auditory to his speech, repeating in chorus his famous words and echoing him. The effect of the thousands of people chanting Obamas words was overwhelming. At the end of the speech everyone staying in front of Obama was sure, that he really can.

Having analyzed Obamas famous speech we should accept the fact that it is a wonderful example of the modern rhetoric and that it has the great influence on the auditory – “That speech before millions of American television viewers generated a resounding outpouring of national support” (Simba para. 3). The usage of each rhetoric device was logically relevant and the effect, produced by the speech, is the good approval of this fact. Having used a lot of rhetorical questions, triples, contrasts, analogies and repetitions, Obama made a great effect on his audience, forcing them to believe, that they had made the right choice. The USA had entered the difficult period, but they would be able to overcome it with dignity, sticking together and forgetting about their differences. Having said not only pleasant things, Obama however, made the public feel totally satisfied and even happy, as they could do everything. Yes, they can.

Works Cited

Auger, Richard W. “Yes, We Can.” Professional School Counseling, 12, 4, (2009), n. pag. Web.

Full text: Obama’s victory speech . 2008. Web.

Kephart, John and Steven Rafferty.”‘Yes We Can’: Rhizomic Rhetorical Agency in Hyper-Modern Campaign Ecologies.” Argumentation and Advocacy 46, 1 (2009),n. pag. Web.

Simba, Malik. “The Obama Campaign 2008. A Historical Overview.” The Western Journal of Black Studies , 33, 3 (2009), n. pag. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, January 24). Barack Obama's Speech as a Rhetorical Example. https://ivypanda.com/essays/barack-obamas-speech-as-a-rhetorical-example/

"Barack Obama's Speech as a Rhetorical Example." IvyPanda , 24 Jan. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/barack-obamas-speech-as-a-rhetorical-example/.

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1. IvyPanda . "Barack Obama's Speech as a Rhetorical Example." January 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/barack-obamas-speech-as-a-rhetorical-example/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Barack Obama's Speech as a Rhetorical Example." January 24, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/barack-obamas-speech-as-a-rhetorical-example/.

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Barack Obama’s 11 Most Inspirational Quotes

F rom the speech that put him on the map during the 2004 DNC to the widely quoted remarks he made at last week’s convention nearly 12 years later, President Obama ’s flair for the spoken word is widely praised. Celebrate the President’s 55th birthday with a collection of his most meaningful quotes:

On motivation: “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition.” ( Knox College Commencement Address , 2005)

On hope: “Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it and to work for it and to fight for it.” ( Iowa Caucus Speech , 2008)

On ‘yes we can’: “We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope. But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people: ‘Yes we can.’” ( New Hampshire Primary Speech , 2008)

On American greatness: “In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.” ( Inauguration address , 2009)

On humanity: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort — a sustained effort — to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.” ( On A New Beginning , Cairo 2009)

On getting help: “If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own… I’m always struck by people who think, ‘well, it must be because I was just so smart.’ There are a lot of smart people out there. ‘It must be because I worked harder than everybody else.’ Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.” ( Campaign Speech in Roanoke , 2012)

On ending hate : “The strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression; it is more speech — the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy, and lift up the values of understanding and mutual respect.” ( Remarks to the UN General Assembly , 2012)

On love: “There’s only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have for our children, for our families, for each other. The warmth of a small child’s embrace, that is true.” ( Sandy Hook Prayer Vigil , 2012)

On perseverance: “You can’t give up your passion if things don’t work right away. You can’t lose heart, or grow cynical if there are twists and turns on your journey. The cynics may be the loudest voices — but I promise you, they will accomplish the least. It’s those folks who stay at it, those who do the long, hard, committed work of change that gradually push this country in the right direction, and make the most lasting difference.” ( Ohio State Commencement , 2013)

On women: “As husbands and fathers and brothers, we have to step up, because every girl’s life matters. Every daughter deserves the same chance as our sons. Every woman should be able to go about her day — to walk the streets or ride the bus — and be safe, and be treated with respect and dignity. She deserves that.” ( Address to the People of India , 2015)

On difference : “Because for all our differences, we are one people, stronger together than we could ever be alone. That’s always been our story. We are big and vast and diverse; a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like, how you started off, or how and who you love, America is a place where you can write your own destiny.” ( Remarks on Supreme Court Marriage Equality , 2015)

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Barack Obama’s Most Powerful Speeches

By Maureen "Mo" Elinzano

Barack Obama has two months left as President of the United States and on November 8, we will elect a new leader of the free world. From his inaugural speech right after being elected president (and subsequently making history) in 2008 to his powerful eulogy after last year’s Charleston shooting to his funny zingers at this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Obama is quite the eloquent and impressive orator. In honor of his time in the White House, here are some of his most impactful speeches from his eight years in office:

1. 2008 Presidential Election Victory Speech Date: November 4, 2008 Place: Grant Park – Chicago

“If there’s anyone out there who doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy — tonight is your answer.” These were the first words spoken by Obama after he was elected president eight years ago and became the country’s first black president in history. It was the beginning of a new era.

2. President Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech Date: December 10, 2009 Place: Oslo, Norway

Obama accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 a week after the escalation of the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan. As usual, he killed it by speaking about prohibiting torture at Guantanamo Bay, his appeals for global unity, and by calling himself a “living testimony to the moral force of nonviolence” in the same vein as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

3. Eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney Date: June 26, 2015 Place: College of Charleston, South Carolina

Obama delivered the eulogy at the funeral of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the pastor who was fatally shot in his Emanuel AME Church along with eight others last year on June 17. U.S presidents have had to give speeches during the toughest moments in the country’s history — and this is considered Obama’s most powerful speech . He gave a thoughtful speech that gave the nation a clarion call to reform gun laws and confront poverty. Obama ended by singing ‘Amazing Grace’ with the congregation who stood up, cried, and lifted their hands with their president and minister for the day.

4. 2016 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Date: April 30, 2016 Place: Washington Hilton Hotel – Washington, D.C.

By Kara Nesvig

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By Brittney McNamara

Okay, so this speech is more impactful in a funny way. But along with his eloquent and profound speeches, President Obama also has a great sense of humor. At this year’s annual dinner (AKA Nerd Prom), which brings together politicians, Washington’s press corps, entertainers, and everyone between, Obama brought the house down during his final dinner as president by making fun of himself and how young he looked eight years ago in comparison to now, as well as roasting everyone including current presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Oh and then he dropped the mic at the end and said, “Obama out.” Legend.

5. Speech at the 50th Anniversary of the Selma Marches Date: March 7, 2015 Place: Selma, Alabama

Reminiscent of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, President Obama delivered a powerful American history lesson and reshaped American history by placing the 1965 marches that went from Selma to Montgomery on the same plane as the battles of the Civil War. Obama profoundly tells the audience that they are all the like the unsung heroes of American history — including the slaves who built the White House, the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” and the gay Americans of San Francisco and New York, among other groups.

6. Remarks On the Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality Date: June 26, 2015

Place: Rose Garden, The White House

After the Supreme Court reorganized the Constitution so that it guarantees marriage equality, Obama delivered an eloquent speech that celebrated the victory of all people being treated equally regardless of who they are or who they love. In true Obama form, he stressed that there’s still work that needs to be done, but that the Supreme Court’s decision is a huge step in the right direction and one which has made America a little more of a perfect union.

7. Sandy Hook Prayer Vigil Date: December 16, 2012 Place: Newtown High School – Newtown, Connecticut

President Obama grieved and mourned with the community of Newtown in an interfaith vigil for the brutal shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that happened two days prior and which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults. As a father of two, Obama comforted the shaken townspeople, but also emphasized his frustration at the occurrence of mass shootings, citing Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’s 2011 attack in Arizona and the shooting that happened at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado the summer before Sandy Hook. Obama stressed that events like this are unacceptable and promised that he would discuss better ways to protect children back in Washington.

8. 2004 Democratic National Convention Speech Date: July 27, 2004 Place: Boston

One of Obama’s most enduring speeches is one that he made way before he was elected leader of the free world, while he was running for the U.S. Senate for Illinois, and without a speechwriter. Still an unknown figure at the time, the future POTUS discussed his family background, rejected political polarization, and emphasized the opportunities that he has in America that he knows he cannot have anywhere else in the world. This is known as his “love letter to America.”

Related: President Obama Takes to Snapchat to Declare His Support for Hillary Clinton

By Lex McMenamin

By Dakota Hall

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By Julie Su

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Effective Communication in Politics. Barack Obama’s Inspirational Speeches

2017, Journal of Media Research

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Barack Obama school speech in full

Hello everyone, how's everybody doing today? I'm here with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia. And we've got students tuning in from all across America, kindergarten through 12th grade. I'm glad you all could join us today.

I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. And for those of you in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, it's your first day in a new school, so it's understandable if you're a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you're in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could've stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

I know that feeling. When I was young, my family lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school. So she decided to teach me extra lessons herself, Monday through Friday at 4:30 in the morning.

Now I wasn't too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I'd fall asleep right there at the kitchen table. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one of those looks and say, "This is no picnic for me either, buster."

So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I'm here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year.

Now I've given a lot of speeches about education. And I've talked a lot about responsibility.

I've talked about your teachers' responsibility for inspiring you, and pushing you to learn.

I've talked about your parents' responsibility for making sure you stay on track, and get your homework done, and don't spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with that Xbox.

I've talked a lot about your government's responsibility for setting high standards, supporting teachers and principals, and turning around schools that aren't working where students aren't getting the opportunities they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, and the best schools in the world and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfil your responsibilities. Unless you show up to those schools; pay attention to those teachers; listen to your parents, grandparents and other adults; and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

And that's what I want to focus on today: the responsibility each of you has for your education. I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself.

Every single one of you has something you're good at. 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.

Maybe you could be a good writer maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a senator or a Supreme Court justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what you want to do with your life I guarantee that you'll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? You want to be a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You're going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. You can't drop out of school and just drop into a good job. You've got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.

And this isn't just important for your own life and your own future. What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

You'll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You'll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You'll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of you to develop your talents, skills and intellect so you can help solve our most difficult problems. If you don't do that if you quit on school you're not just quitting on yourself, you're quitting on your country.

Now I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what that's like. My father left my family when I was two years old, and I was raised by a single mother who struggled at times to pay the bills and wasn't always able to give us things the other kids had. There were times when I missed having a father in my life. There were times when I was lonely and felt like I didn't fit in.

So I wasn't always as focused as I should have been. I did some things I'm not proud of, and got in more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was fortunate. I got a lot of second chances and had the opportunity to go to college, and law school, and follow my dreams. My wife, our first lady Michelle Obama, has a similar story. Neither of her parents had gone to college, and they didn't have much. But they worked hard, and she worked hard, so that she could go to the best schools in this country.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don't have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family has lost their job, and there's not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighbourhood where you don't feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren't right.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home that's no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That's no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.

That's what young people like you are doing every day, all across America.

Young people like Jazmin Perez, from Roma, Texas. Jazmin didn't speak English when she first started school. Hardly anyone in her hometown went to college, and neither of her parents had gone either. But she worked hard, earned good grades, got a scholarship to Brown University, and is now in graduate school, studying public health, on her way to being Dr. Jazmin Perez.

I'm thinking about Andoni Schultz, from Los Altos, California, who's fought brain cancer since he was three. He's endured all sorts of treatments and surgeries, one of which affected his memory, so it took him much longer hundreds of extra hours to do his schoolwork. But he never fell behind, and he's headed to college this fall.

And then there's Shantell Steve, from my hometown of Chicago, Illinois. Even when bouncing from foster home to foster home in the toughest neighbourhoods, she managed to get a job at a local health centre; start a program to keep young people out of gangs; and she's on track to graduate high school with honours and go on to college.

Jazmin, Andoni and Shantell aren't any different from any of you. They faced challenges in their lives just like you do. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of you to do the same. That's why today, I'm calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you'll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you'll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you'll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you'll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don't feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you're not going to be any of those things.

But the truth is, being successful is hard. You won't love every subject you study. You won't click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That's OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who've had the most failures. JK Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. But he once said, "I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

These people succeeded because they understand that you can't let your failures define you, you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn't mean you're a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you're stupid, it just means you need to spend more time studying.

No one's born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You're not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. You don't hit every note the first time you sing a song. You've got to practice. It's the same with your schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it's good enough to hand in.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn't a sign of weakness, it's a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don't know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counsellor and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you're struggling, even when you're discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you don't ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.

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. It's the story of students who sat where you sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where you sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where you sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask you, what's your contribution going to be? What problems are you going to solve? What discoveries will you make? What will a president who comes here in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of you did for this country?

Your families, your teachers, and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have the education you need to answer these questions. I'm working hard to fix up your classrooms and get you the books, equipment and computers you need to learn. But you've got to do your part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down don't let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

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