Monday, September 7, 2009

A President's Job is to Lead & Inspire

I think that is exactly what President Obama is doing with his address to children tomorrow.

Some find it controversial that he would tell the children "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." But you know what? I find it inspiring. Inspiring that someone in that high an office would take time out of his day to talk to the youngsters of American about how he didn't have it that easy, but look where he is today:

"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."

It's important not just for the children of this nation to hear these words from a President, but it's also important for us as adults, because learning never stops and the opportunities never end. It's extremely inspiring for me, an adult student, to hear the President of the United States tell us how things weren't always easy. We all make mistakes, but we're given second and third and fourth chances to make things right. Whether that be our education or in our personal life.

So the critics can complain and the naysayers will nay say, but I say this President is doing exactly what I hired him for. He is a role model for the entire nation, no matter what your political views. It's never too late to follow your dreams.