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发表于 2017-1-10 17:45:17
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And we know that school counselors like all of the folks standing with me
on this stage have played a critical role in helping us get there. In fact, a
recent study showed that students who met with a school counselor to talk about
financial aid or college were three times more likely to attend college, and
they were nearly seven times more likely to apply for financial aid.
So our school counselors are truly among the heroes of the Reach Higher
story. And that’s why we created this event two years ago, because we thought
that they should finally get some recognition. (Applause.) We wanted everyone to
know about the difference that these phenomenal men and women have been making
in the lives of our young people every day. And our 2017 School Counselor of the
Year, Terri Tchorzynski, is a perfect example.
As you heard, Terri works at the Calhoun Area Career Center, a career and
technical education school in Michigan. And here’s what Terri’s principal said
about her in his letter of recommendation. He said, “Once she identifies a
systemic need, she works tirelessly to address it.”
So when students at Terri’s school reported feeling unprepared to apply for
higher education, Terri sprang into action to create a school-wide,
top-to-bottom college-readiness effort. Under Terri’s leadership, more students
than ever before attended workshops on resume writing, FAFSA completion — yes, I
can now say FAFSA — (laughter) — and interview preparation. I can barely say it.
(Laughter.) They did career and personal — personality assessments. They helped
plan a special college week. And they organized a Military Day, hosting
recruiters from all branches of our armed forces. And because of these efforts,
today, 75 percent of Calhoun’s seniors now complete key college application
steps, and Terri’s school has won state and national recognition.
And all of this is just one small part of what Terri does for her students
each day. I can go on and on about all the time she spends one-on-one with
students, helping them figure out their life path. Terri told us — as you heard,
she told us about one of those students, so we reached out to Kyra. And here’s
what Kyra had to say in her own words. Kyra wrote that “Mrs. Tchorzynski has
helped me grow to love myself. She helped me with my doubts and insecurities.”
She said, my life has changed “for the better in all aspects.” Kyra said, “She
held my hand through my hardest times.” She said, “Mrs. Tchorzynski is my
lifesaver.” That’s what Kyra said. (Laughter.)
And this is what each of you do every single day. You see the promise in
each of your students. You believe in them even when they can’t believe in
themselves, and you work tirelessly to help them be who they were truly meant to
be. And you do it all in the face of some overwhelming challenges — tight
budgets, impossible student- counselor ratios — yeah, amen — (laughter) —
endless demands on your time.
You all come in early, you stay late. You reach into your own pockets — and
see, we’ve got the amen corner. (Laughter.) You stick with students in their
darkest moments, when they’re most anxious and afraid. And if anyone is dealing
with a college [high school] senior or junior, you know what this feels like.
These men and women show them that those kids matter; that they have something
to offer; that no matter where they’re from or how much money their parents
have, no matter what they look like or who they love or how they worship or what
language they speak at home, they have a place in this country.
And as I end my time in the White House, I can think of no better message
to send our young people in my last official remarks as First Lady. So for all
the young people in this room and those who are watching, know that this country
belongs to you — to all of you, from every background and walk of life. If you
or your parents are immigrants, know that you are part of a proud American
tradition — the infusion of new cultures, talents and ideas, generation after
generation, that has made us the greatest country on earth.
If your family doesn’t have much money, I want you to remember that in this
country, plenty of folks, including me and my husband — we started out with very
little. But with a lot of hard work and a good education, anything is possible —
even becoming President. That’s what the American Dream is all about.
(Applause.)
If you are a person of faith, know that religious diversity is a great
American tradition, too. In fact, that’s why people first came to this country —
to worship freely. And whether you are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh —
these religions are teaching our young people about justice, and compassion, and
honesty. So I want our young people to continue to learn and practice those
values with pride. You see, our glorious diversity — our diversities of faiths
and colors and creeds — that is not a threat to who we are, it makes us who we
are. (Applause.) So the young people here and the young people out there: Do not
ever let anyone make you feel like you don’t matter, or like you don’t have a
place in our American story — because you do. And you have a right to be exactly
who you are. But I also want to be very clear: This right isn’t just handed to
you. No, this right has to be earned every single day. You cannot take your
freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have
to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms. And that starts right
now, when you’re young.
Right now, you need to be preparing yourself to add your voice to our
national conversation. You need to prepare yourself to be informed and engaged
as a citizen, to serve and to lead, to stand up for our proud American values
and to honor them in your daily lives. And that means getting the best education
possible so you can think critically, so you can express yourself clearly, so
you can get a good job and support yourself and your family, so you can be a
positive force in your communities.
And when you encounter obstacles — because I guarantee you, you will, and
many of you already have — when you are struggling and you start thinking about
giving up, I want you to remember something that my husband and I have talked
about since we first started this journey nearly a decade ago, something that
has carried us through every moment in this White House and every moment of our
lives, and that is the power of hope — the belief that something better is
always possible if you’re willing to work for it and fight for it.
It is our fundamental belief in the power of hope that has allowed us to
rise above the voices of doubt and division, of anger and fear that we have
faced in our own lives and in the life of this country. Our hope that if we work
hard enough and believe in ourselves, then we can be whatever we dream,
regardless of the limitations that others may place on us. The hope that when
people see us for who we truly are, maybe, just maybe they, too, will be
inspired to rise to their best possible selves.
That is the hope of students like Kyra who fight to discover their gifts
and share them with the world. It’s the hope of school counselors like Terri and
all these folks up here who guide those students every step of the way, refusing
to give up on even a single young person. Shoot, it’s the hope of my — folks
like my dad who got up every day to do his job at the city water plant; the hope
that one day, his kids would go to college and have opportunities he never
dreamed of.
That’s the kind of hope that every single one of us — politicians, parents,
preachers — all of us need to be providing for our young people. Because that is
what moves this country forward every single day — our hope for the future and
the hard work that hope inspires.
So that’s my final message to young people as First Lady. It is simple.
(Applause.) I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong.
So don’t be afraid — you hear me, young people? Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be
determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered. Empower yourselves with a good education,
then get out there and use that education to build a country worthy of your
boundless promise. Lead by example with hope, never fear. And know that I will
be with you, rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my
life.
And that is true I know for every person who are here — is here today, and
for educators and advocates all across this nation who get up every day and work
their hearts out to lift up our young people. And I am so grateful to all of you
for your passion and your dedication and all the hard work on behalf of our next
generation. And I can think of no better way to end my time as First Lady than
celebrating with all of you.
So I want to close today by simply saying thank you. Thank you for
everything you do for our kids and for our country. Being your First Lady has
been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I’ve made you proud. |
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