Kids have plenty of distractions away from school even without having the President of the United States as guest lecturer. “I’m gonna be listening and if I get inspired I get inspired and if I don’t I don’t,†said Houston student Zoe Pratt.It is just what President Obama might expect. In the speech he will deliver to school kids Tuesday, Obama is expected to press for better schools, better teachers and parents involved in their children’s education. He’s striving for the best schools in the world too, but it doesn’t matter if students don’t strive to do their best.
“None of it will matter unless all of you fulfill 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,†the president is expected to say during his speech which was released to the public on Monday.Texas native Jazmin Perez has done all of that. She said that the last thing she expected was a call from the White House. “It was kinda hard to believe. I thought it was a joke,†said Perez.Perez’s story begins with her not knowing English when she started school in the South Texas town of Roma.
She overcame that and eventually earned a scholarship to Brown University. She is now pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. She will be one of just three examples in Obama’s speech.“I hope someone does read and understand and know that someone has been in their position and actually feel encouraged and motivated to do the same. To stay in school and work hard,†said Perez.Here is Obama’s version, “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.â€Just like Jazmin Perez and Obama’s other two examples refused to give up and chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves.