Last week, President Obama gave his 2011 State of the Union Address. In it, he spoke a lot about education. Below are some important excerpts to know, especially as they relate to you, your education, and our future as an highly educated country:
“Over the next 10 years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education that goes beyond a high school education. And yet, as many as a quarter of our students aren’t even finishing high school”
“…over the next 10 years, with so many baby boomers retiring from our classrooms, we want to prepare 100,000 new teachers in the fields of science and technology and engineering and math.”
“…to every young person listening tonight who’s contemplating their career choice:
If you want to make a difference in the life of our nation; if you want to make a difference in the life of a child — become a teacher.”
“…the education race doesn’t end with a high school diploma”
“…we’re also revitalizing America’s community colleges…a woman named Kathy Proctor, had worked in the furniture industry since she was 18 years old. And she told me she’s earning her degree in biotechnology now, at 55 years…because she wants to inspire her children to pursue their dreams, too.”
“To compete, higher education must be within the reach of every American.”
“…it’s not just the winner of the Super Bowl who deserves to be celebrated, but the winner of the science fair. We need to teach them that success is not a function of fame or PR, but of hard work and discipline.”
“By the end of the decade, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.”
Hopefully, as college students, and TRIO SSS students, who plan to transfer and get your Bachelor’s Degree, and other (terminal) degrees, the messages in the President’s SOTU speech, will be more inspiring to you. As one of the first in your family to get a college degree, or with limited/low income, and given other challenges, be sure to PERSIST, achieve your semester objectives, and accomplish your educational goals! |
