Obama’s Back-to-School Speech Urges Students to Graduate from College

President Barack Obama delivered his third annual back-to-school speech to high school students, but college students may also want to take notes from his message. 

 "Just getting into college isn't enough," Obama said earlier today in Banneker High School. "You need to graduate."

Obama said that currently the United States is ranked sixteenth in the world with the number of young people with college degrees. He urged students to continue their education after they graduate high school.

"The fact of the matter is that 60 percent of jobs in the next decade will require more than a high school diploma," he told the students. "That's the world your walking into."

 Banneker's Principal Anita Berger enjoyed Obama's speech and agrees that college graduation is an important topic. Banneker High School currently has a 100 percent college acceptance rate. But according to Berger, just getting into college isn't enough.

 "It's not only about being accepted to college, but being able to finish college," Berger said. "And we need to make sure that happens."

 Most college dropouts leave school because of financial burdens. According to a report released by Public Agenda in 2009, having to work and make money while in school is the top reason young adults leave college institutions. The second largest reason given is that they could not afford tuition and fees.

Obama mentioned his efforts at making college affordable one time during his speech. Instead of talking about a student's financial obligations, Obama discussed the student's academic responsibilities.

His speech focused on encouraging students to work hard, ask questions, take risks and persevere. Obama also told students that they should strive to be the best and not to be embarrassed if they are not good at something right away.

Obama admitted that he was not always the best student and that he was not too enamored by his ethics class. Kendra Hazel, a 17-year-old senior at Banneker, can relate.

"I kind of feel the same way about my math class," Hazel said.

Hazel is taking the SAT in November and plans to graduate high school this spring. She hopes to attend Temple University, Pennsylvania State University or St. John's University next year and go on to medical school to become a pediatrician.

Hazel already feels the pressure of working while in school. 

She works part-time at the National Capital Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking after school and on the weekends. She enjoys her job and says it is more for the experience than the money, however she admits it's hard to stay focus sometimes.

"But you gotta do what you gotta do," Hazel said.

Obama highlighted other student's who, like Hazel, are taking the initiative to start making a difference in the world now. He gave examples of students who are raising money donations for charity and even researching how to kill cancer cells.

"Nothing inspires me more than knowing young people are already making their marks," Obama said. "You don't have to wait to make a difference." 

The President closed his back to school speech by pushing students to reach their potential and increase their skill sets during their time in school to help the country and its struggling economy.

"With all of the challenges that our country faces today, we don't just need you for the future," Obama said. "We actually need you now."