Remarks by the President at a Gulf Coast Briefing in Gulfport, Mississippi

Coast Guard Station Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi

11:56 A.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m going to make a longer statement later in Alabama, so just very quickly I just want to thank Governor Barbour and the First Lady of Mississippi for hosting us.  I want to thank Governor Jindal for flying in.  And we have members of the congressional delegation here in Mississippi, as well as a range of local and state officials.

Admiral Allen provided a detailed report about what was being done specifically here in Mississippi and fielded a range of questions and suggestions about how responses can continually improve.  One of the things that came out of this discussion is how do we make sure that there’s effective coordination in terms of skimmers, vessels of opportunity that are out on the water right now.  Can we make sure that they are responding as quickly as possible to the oil before it starts getting closer to shore? 

And there are a range of issues having to do with communications.  Are there -- some of these smaller vessels have radios on them, have we done an effective inventory of which ones are large enough and have enough trained personnel that they can actually lay boom or they can engage in skimming?  Which ones should be deployed more as sentinels to identify where, in fact, the oil may be coming in.  I think it was a very useful conversation.  Captain Steve Poulin, who is the local incident commander, had gathered a lot of these suggestions and is going to be moving on them in the days to come. 

We also talked about claims to make sure that people here in Mississippi, but throughout the region, are going to be adequately compensated for the damages and the losses that they are experiencing right now.  There are still problems with them.  I think as everybody is aware, I’m going to be meeting with the chairman and other officials from BP on Wednesday.  And so we’re gathering up facts, stories right now so that we have an absolutely clear understanding about how we can best present to BP the need to make sure that individuals and businesses are dealt with in a fair manner and in a prompt manner.  And, again, there were suggestions on that front as well.

So I just want to thank everybody here that’s involved.  Folks around the table here have been working 24/7.  The governors, they’ve been on a constant state of full alert and have been putting in a lot of time and a lot of energy working with Thad Allen to make sure that in dealing with this disaster, we are minimizing the short term impacts, and we’re making sure that we’ve got the resources to fully recover.

The last point I’m going to make, and this is something that’s been repeatedly emphasized, here in Mississippi -- but it’s true in Florida, it’s true in Alabama and it’s true in portions of Louisiana -- there’s still a lot of opportunity for visitors to come down here, a lot of beaches that are not yet affected or will not be affected.  And we just want to make sure that people who have travel plans down to the Gulf area remain mindful of that, because if people want to know what can they do to help folks down here, one of the best ways to help is to come down here and enjoy the outstanding hospitality.

All right, and I’ll be making longer comments when I get to Alabama this afternoon.  Thank you, everybody.

END
12:00 P.M. CDT

Remarks by the First Lady to the Camp Pendleton Community

Camp Pendleton, California

4:33 P.M. PDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Yay!  Hello, Pendleton!  Wow, it’s a Sunday, and you’re here.  (Applause.) 
 
First of all, let me thank General Dunford for his kind introduction and for more than 30 years of extraordinary service in uniform.  Let’s give the General -- (applause.)  I also want to thank General Jackson, Colonel Marano, your senior enlisted leaders, especially your base Senior Enlisted Marine -- a remarkable woman who reminds us that our NCOs are the backbone of our military -- Sergeant Major Ramona Cook.  (Applause.)
 
And thank you all for this incredible welcome, and for coming out, as I said, on a Sunday, especially when you could be home getting ready for the big game.  (Applause.)  We will be out of here in time.  (Laughter.)  As you may have heard, my husband, the President, that guy -- (laughter) -- he did pick the Lakers to win.  (Applause.)  It’s close, so we’ll see -- hey, hey, hey, look -- (laughter) -- I'm a neutral party in this battle.  (Laughter.) 
 
It is wonderful to be here at Marine Corps Base -- Camp Pendleton, home of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force -- “One Mef.”  (Applause.)  One Mef.  (Applause.)  And one of the most decorated military units in American history -- the 1st Marine Division.  (Applause.)  
 
We have folks here from across Marine Corps Installations West -- our Navy-Marine Corps team.  We have a lot of civilian Marines, and a lot of proud Marine spouses and families who are here.  So I also want to acknowledge Ellyn Dunford, Susan Jackson and Tami Marano for giving me such a warm welcome when I landed.  And to all the truly amazing families that I just had a chance to talk to, they are doing just -- as I said, they are intelligent, they are passionate, they’re committed to their issues.  And it was truly an honor for me to spend time with them.  And let’s hear it also for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band.  (Applause.)  Thank you all. 
 
We’re also joined by your neighbors and partners from three great counties here:  San Diego, Orange and Riverside, and the many elected officials and leaders, local and state, including Senator Boxer and Congresswoman Davis.  They are tireless champions of our men and women in uniform, and also their families and our veterans.  So let’s give them another round of applause.  (Applause.)
 
Now, I’ve been doing this First Lady thing for a little bit, and I’ve had the chance to meet some pretty amazing people -- the Pope, the Queen of England, a couple weeks ago Paul McCartney.  (Laughter.)  But I have to tell you sincerely that some of the most inspiring Americans I’ve ever met are our men and women in uniform.  You all take my breath away every time I’m on a base.  This includes those who are part of our daily lives at the White House -- the United States Marines.  They are just amazing people.  In fact, one of them -- (applause) -- that’s our guys, and gals -- in fact, one of them was your 32nd Commandant, who my husband selected as his National Security Advisor, General Jim Jones, and his wonderful wife Diane.  (Applause.) 
 
And one of the most impressive evenings that the President and I have had since he’s been in office was when we joined General Conway and his wife Annette for the Evening Parade at “the oldest post in the Corps” -- the Marine Barracks Washington.  It was an amazing evening -- the tradition, the discipline, the pride -- the same virtues that you and your families exhibit every day, we got to see it on display that evening.
 
So I wanted to come here today for a simple reason, and it’s become one of my defining missions as First Lady, and that’s to help the rest of our country better understand and appreciate the incredible service of you and your families, and to make sure that your voices are heard back in Washington and that your needs are met, and to make sure that we realize our vision of an America that truly supports and engages our military families.  That’s why I'm here.  And I couldn’t think of a better place to bring this effort than to Camp Pendleton and Southern California.  (Applause.)  It’s beautiful -- this is a beautiful part of the country.  It’s one of America’s biggest and strongest military communities.
 
And many of you have served in Iraq.  Many of you have served in Afghanistan.  Some of you will be shipping out in the coming months.  And I know it is never easy to say goodbye to your loved ones, your spouses, your kids.  It is never easy.  And I know nothing compares to the joy and the relief of those incredible homecomings.  I’ve seen some of them.  And let me join you in saying welcome home to our Marines who returned from Afghanistan just the other day -- the 1st Marine Division Military Police Company.  (Applause.)  Welcome home.
 
But today, our thoughts are also with all our men and women in harm’s way around the world, including our Marines in Afghanistan, so many of whom are from Camp Pendleton.  They’re the “One Mef” Marines in Helmand Province, at Camp Leatherneck, your husbands, your wives, your fellow Marines, including some inspiring women Marines.  Yes for our ladies!  (Applause.)  We send all of them our love and support, and we pray that they come home safe.    
 
Yet as you all know too well, and so painfully, that that’s not always the case.  In the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, no Marine base -- and few bases anywhere -- has sacrificed more for America, more lives, more wounded warriors, than your families and your colleagues. 
 
And today, we honor all of our fallen heroes, including the Camp Pendleton Marines who gave their lives just this past week:  Sergeant Brandon Bury.  Lance Corporal Derek Hernandez.  Corporal Donald Marler.  Sergeant John Rankel.  Lance Corporal Michael Plank.
 
Our prayers and support are with these fallen Marines and their families, and with all the Gold Star families who are here with us today.  As one Pendleton wife put it so eloquently, she said, “We’re the voices and spirits of the boys -- and girls -- who didn’t come home.”  And as a nation, we join with you in honoring their memory as you and your families find the strength to carry on and to live the lives that would make your loved ones so proud.      
 
So I’m here today to remind America that, as a nation, we can never forget or fail to support you, our incredible military families.  You’re heroes just as much as our men and women in uniform -- the spouses who stay behind, with all the pride of being a military wife or husband, but with also the fears and the anxiety that come when the person you love the most in the world is in harm’s way. 
 
Here on the homefront, you do the job of two or three, juggling play dates and practices and ballet recitals, trying to keep the household together all on your own, making sure that your children get the care and support they need as you move from station to station, maybe trying to hold down a job or pursue your own career, get your own education, all while trying to hide your own worries when the kids look up and ask when daddy or mommy is coming home.
 
And if they come home needing care, you become the caregivers to our wounded warriors, including those with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury.  You put your own lives on hold, working every day around the clock, to make your loved ones whole again.  I just visited your state-of-the-art Wounded Warrior Battalion.  It was amazing, and it was so humbling to be there, to see the Marines there who are fighting so hard to recover.  They are an inspiration, not just to me but the entire country.
 
And through it all, our incredible military kids -- all these beautiful kids serve in their own special way too.  We cannot forget these children.  (Applause.)  They are children who have spent most of their young lives with a parent deployed.  They are older siblings shouldering so much responsibility just like little adults.  And it doesn’t get easier with each deployment -- it only gets harder.  And to the children of the fallen, I know you all are working so hard to be strong and to grow up and to realize your dreams.  So I want every boy and girl here and teenager here to know that America thinks that you guys are doing an amazing job.  We are proud of you all too.  (Applause.) 
 
And then somehow, through it all -- and this always amazes me -- is that no matter what base I visit, anywhere in the country, even as you all serve this nation, you still find time to serve your local communities and your civilian neighborhoods.  That’s amazing.  You’re Little League coaches and soccer moms and volunteers at schools and food banks and churches and hospitals.  You volunteer to build homes for the less fortunate and helped respond during those horrible wildfires here.  And, of course, wherever there are Marines, there’s Toys for Tots, which got started right here in Southern California.  And more than 60 years later, you’re still going strong, all over the country.
 
So I’ve been telling your fellow Americans -- given all that you all and your families do to take care of America, America needs to take care of you.  It is our moral obligation, and every American has a responsibility to do our part.
 
So that’s why I’ve issued a national challenge -- a challenge to every sector of American society to mobilize and take action to support and engage our military families.  And not just now, with our nation at war, but for the decades to come.  We have to build the capacity to support you and your families at every stage of your lives.  But to do this, we need a truly national commitment -- no one can sit on the sidelines.  One percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, but 100 percent of Americans need to be supporting you in that fight. 
 
So this is a challenge -- (applause) -- this is a challenge to the government.  That’s why my husband and his administration have made military families a priority -- increasing funds for military housing, childcare, counseling and career development support for spouses, extending the Family Medical Leave Act to more military families and caregivers, and recently, expanding veterans’ health care and giving unprecedented support to caregivers. 
 
And because we have to bring together the resources across the federal government for this mission, my husband has ordered a government-wide review that urges every department to make supporting your families a high priority, and it will lay the foundation for a coordinated government approach for years to come.
 
This is a challenge across the Department of Defense, including every branch of the military.  And I want to commend General Conway and his wife Annette for making family readiness a top priority.  After all -- (applause) -- it’s true, and people have to understand this, that the readiness of our armed forces depends on the readiness of our military families -- you all know that.   And here at Pendleton, you’re a model of family support -- spouses supporting spouses, and family team building.  It’s a true model.  That includes making sure that our families are healthy, which, as you know, has been one of my big focuses as First Lady.  So I was thrilled to hear about your terrific program -- “Semper Fit.”
 
That’s a good thing.  But as you know, there’s still so much more we need to do to serve your families even better.  And that’s why the Defense Department has launched the Military Family Life Project.  This is a landmark study of spouses and service members to assess your quality of life.  So one thing I’ve been doing is urging every military spouse across America that if you’ve been selected or know someone who’s been participated to participate, please do, because the more we know about your priorities, the more we can do to meet them. 
 
But this can’t be a mission for government alone.  Every American has to play a role.  And that’s the other reason why I wanted to come here to Southern California, because the great civilian communities here really get it. You’re showing the rest of America what it means to truly support and engage our troops and families. 
 
Yes, it’s easier when you have a big base like Pendleton nearby.  But so many of the wonderful ideas and initiatives here can be a model for communities all across the country.  And after all, just like at Pendleton, most military families live off base, as part of the broader community.  Most military children attend public schools somewhere in this country.  Our National Guardsmen and Reservists are in virtually every community across America.  So I want the whole country to be inspired by what is happening here in Southern California.
 
I want local governments to see how San Diego, Orange and Riverside counties and communities have really, truly stepped up; how so many cities have adopted units -- sending care packages to our Marines when you’re deployed, and giving spouses the support and friendship they need back home; how communities like Oceanside come together with “Operation Appreciation Day” -- this is a beautiful effort just to say thank you; and how schools like Mater Dei offer special programs, football and dance, for our military kids.
 
I want the private sector to see how your local businesses have been so creative, like the Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, which provided all-expenses-paid weddings for lucky Marine couples.  Now, that’s great -- isn’t it?  (Laughter.)  It’s a good thing.  (Applause.)   
 
You can be like businesses all over this area, which have opened up their doors and helped our talented spouses and veterans develop their skills and pursue their careers, because the truth is, the discipline and dedication needed to succeed in the military are the same traits that any business would want in their employees.  And whether your company is big or small, every business leader can speak out against abusive practices like predatory lenders who target military families.  That’s the kind of stuff that needs to stop.
 
And I want organizations across the country to see the incredible difference that community-based groups make here in this area -- often by just doing what they already do but connecting it to the priorities of military families -- the groups all over the region that throw Mother’s Day brunches for Marine moms; the folks in San Onofre who returned the goodwill of Toys for Tots with Christmas Trees for Troops.  There are local museums, like the San Diego Museum of Art, which have joined with Blue Star Families, the National Endowment for the Arts, and hundreds of museums across the country to offer free admission to families -- military families this summer. 
 
And a wonderful program that we were proud to help celebrate at the White House during National Mentoring Month -- that was the Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego and their “Operation Bigs,” which provides mentors to so many great military kids here at Pendleton.         
 
So in short, this is a challenge to every American, because everyone can do something to support and engage our military and your families.
 
There are families like the Tuzons.  Norman is a master sergeant with the 1st Marine Division and is currently deployed to Afghanistan.  And I just met his wife Eliza, who is here at Pendleton, with their three beautiful children:  Kiana, who’s here -- she’s nine; and Akina, who’s five; and Akian, who’s the little man with the mohawk, who’s one.  (Laughter.) 
 
And last year, Kiana -- who was then a 3rd grader at Mary Fay Pendleton School -- wrote an essay, which won the national recognition by the Armed Services YMCA.  And her essay -- (applause) -- they’re very proud of her -- her essay was displayed in the halls of Congress, where it could be seen by Americans from across the country.
 
And this is what she wrote.  She said -- and this is a quote -- “We should all have military heroes…[who] do so many things for us that sometimes [are] taken for granted.”  Yes, she’s a 4th grader.  She said, “My military hero…is my dad.”  And she said, “He fights for our country.”  But she added, “When he’s deployed to other countries…my military hero is my mom.”  She said, “She is a strong Marine mom.  She has a very hard duty, just like a Marine.  My mom works 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  And she is always there when I need her.”
 
And by the way, her mom says Kiana is quite a kid too.  Kiana loves math and music, Disney and Mozart.  Her handwriting is excellent, because she wrote me a letter.  She writes better than a lot of my staff.  (Laughter.)  She misses her dad a lot, but she helps her mom around the house and her little sister with her homework.
 
And in her essay, Kiana had a message for every American.  She said -- this is another quote -- “If you do not have a military hero yet, find a Marine and thank him or her for serving our country.”  (Applause.)  Now that’s pretty good advice for a 4th grader.  It’s a simple message.        
 
Kiana, her mom and brother and sister, as I said, are here today, and I got a chance to meet them.  And I’d like to ask them, if they are here, to stand up.  I see them over there.  You guys?  (Applause.)  And they’re gorgeous.  Kiana, sweetie, thank you for helping to inspire us.  Now the whole world knows just how amazing you are.
 
And that’s really the challenge.  That’s what the challenge is all about.  It’s about every American remembering that you and your families, you are the heroes among us.  It’s about every American doing their part.  It’s simple, it’s about making sure that we realize our vision of an America that stands by you at every stage of your lives.
 
An America where every sailor, soldier, airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman and woman can deploy knowing that their family will be taken care of, so instead of worrying about benefits and bureaucracy, they can focus on their mission -- that is, protecting our country.
 
We’re working towards an America where every spouse has the support he or she needs, including a clear understanding of the programs that are available and how to access them.  And this includes the courageous survivors of our fallen heroes, who we must support as they keep alive the legacy of their loved ones and continue to contribute to the life of our country.
 
We’re working towards an America where every military child is recognized as someone who serves too, in their own way, and where they receive the support that they need to pursue their dreams.
 
We’re working to be an America where our troops and our veterans and their spouses are recognized for what they are -- skilled and talented leaders who have so much to offer our country, not only during their military service, but throughout their lives.
 
We’re working to be an American where more people not only understand the service and sacrifice that you and your families make, but where more Americans take action to help lighten your load.
 
That is the future that you all deserve.  And working toward that future is going to remain one of my defining missions as First Lady.  That is my promise to you.
 
So I want to thank you for what you do for our country.  (Applause.)  We are so very proud of you.  You all be safe, be strong, hold together, and God bless.  And Semper Fi!  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END
4:56 P.M. PDT

Remarks by the First Lady at Women's Bureau 90th Anniversary Event

Department of Labor, Washington, D.C.

3:23 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all so much.  (Applause.)  The sit sign.

Well, good afternoon! 

AUDIENCE:  Good afternoon!

MRS. OBAMA:  This is exciting.  It is a pleasure to be with all of you to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Women’s Bureau here at the Department of Labor.  This is very exciting.  A wonderful turnout.

I want to thank our Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.  She is not only an outstanding Secretary and a tremendous asset to this administration, but she has become a personal friend of mine.  She is always there, flying around with me, showing up to stuff that I ask her to.  Yeah, she does, all the time.  (Laughter.)  She is a gift to all of us, and she has been just an amazing supporter of this Bureau.  So let’s give Hilda a round of applause.  (Applause.)

And I also want to thank Representative Lynn Woolsey for her terrific work and for joining us here today.  Let’s give her a round of applause.  (Applause.)

I also have to recognize the current director, Sara, for all that you’re doing for this Bureau and for representing women across this country in such a tremendous way. 

But in addition to Sara, we also have the former Women’s Bureau directors who have taken the time to join us today.  And I want those women to stand if they haven’t already done so.  (Applause.)  Sara, you stand, too.  This is for you, as well.  (Applause.)  We have women going back nearly four decades, and we’re thrilled that you all could be here and grateful for your service.  It was an honor for me to get a moment to say hello to each of you backstage.

Now, as you all know, back when this Bureau was founded, women had yet to earn the right to vote.  There wasn’t a single woman serving in Congress or in the Cabinet.  Women were less than one-fifth of our nation’s workforce, and they often worked in dangerous and deplorable conditions. 

And back then, the establishment of this Bureau actually caused a lot of controversy.  And some people even argued that what you all were trying to do here was somehow “un-American.”

Well, for 90 years, whether fighting for workplace safety or equal pay, child care or family leave, the work of this Bureau has been driven by a simple truth.  It’s a sentiment that was articulated in an early bulletin from the bulletin -- from the Bureau which read, simply –- and this is a quote: “America will be as strong as her women.”  (Applause.)

“America will be as strong as her women” –- something that’s true -- just as true today in 2010 as it was back when this Bureau was founded in 1920. 

Today, women make up the majority of students in our colleges.  Women make up roughly half of our workforce, and mothers are the primary or co-breadwinners in nearly two-thirds of American families. 

But despite all the progress that we’ve seen since this Bureau was founded, as you all know, there are still certain stubborn inequalities that still persist. 

Women in this country still earn just 77 cents for every dollar men earn.  There are still only 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs that are women. 

And to this day, too many women still face that daily juggling act to manage the needs of their families with the demands of their jobs.  They’re unable to take sick days to care for ailing children or aging parents.  They struggle to find affordable child care.  They feel like they’re burning the candle at both ends –- and in the middle. 

And this reflects a larger problem –- that for too long, policies that help people balance work and family responsibilities have been seen as niceties for women, rather than as the necessity that can benefit all of us, men and women alike.  So we still have our work cut out for us.  We've got a lot to do.

That’s why I am proud that the very first bill that my husband signed into law when he became President of the United States was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act -- (applause) -- because as he put it then, here in America, “there are no second-class citizens in our workplaces,” and there is no reason why women shouldn’t get equal pay for equal work. 

And I’m proud of what we’re doing to make the federal government more of a model for the kind of change that we’ve talking about, whether it’s expanding tele-work options to providing emergency child care and affordable day care.  There’s a lot that the federal government can do to model what is good and right in the workplace.

My husband has also proposed helping states that want to set up paid leave funds, and we’ve worked to expand the Family and Medical Leave Act to more of our military families, which is something that should have happened a long time ago -- (applause) -- because the truth is, ultimately, these issues aren’t just women’s issues.  We all know that when women make less than men for the same work, that doesn’t just hurt women; that hurts families who find themselves with less income and have to work harder just to get by. 

When women don’t have the flexibility they need to fulfill their responsibilities as both employees and breadwinners and mothers and daughters, that doesn’t just hurt women; that hurts their children and their parents, it hurts their spouses and their partners, and it puts a strain on the entire household and ultimately on all of our communities.

Ultimately, as the proclamation my husband signed honoring this Bureau said, and this is a quote, “Equal economic opportunity and wage parity are not simply women’s issues –- they are Americans’ issues.”  And even after 90 years of hard work, we’ve still got a way to go. 

But let’s also never lose sight of how far we’ve come.  Just imagine what the first members of this Bureau would think if they could see us all here today.  Just look at this room, look at this country! 

Imagine the faces on their -- the looks on their faces if they could see a Madam speaker in the House of Representatives and so many brilliant women like Secretary Solis serving in our Cabinet.  That's amazing.  (Applause.)

Imagine what those founding members would think of the prospect of three women serving on our nation’s highest court and how proud they would be to see women -- (applause) -- to see women taking their places at the top of so many fields –- from science and business, to politics and the armed forces.

So much has happened in these 90 years –- so many barriers broken, so many glass ceilings cracked and shattered, so many dreams realized and goals fulfilled. 

And it’s really because of people like all of you and the folks who came before you, those folks who organized and mobilized and stood up and spoke out, determined to give their daughters and granddaughters opportunities they never dreamed of themselves.

And I stand before you today not just as a woman who has walked through so many of those doors that have been opened, but as a mother of two beautiful little women -- and they are becoming little women -- (laughter) -- who, because of their efforts, view the world truly as a place with limitless possibilities, who believe that nothing is beyond their reach, nothing is off-limits, and there’s nothing that girls like them can’t do.  And that is beautiful.
 
So I’m here today to thank you, and to honor this Bureau for all it’s done over these past years, not just for women, but for all of us –- and for this country that we love.  This is truly a cause for celebration.  Everyone should be proud.

Thank you so much.  God bless.  And Hilda and I will come down and say hello.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
3:34 P.M. EDT

Remarks by the First Lady at Anacostia Senior High School Commencement Ceremony

DAR Constitution Hall
Washington, D.C.

10:35 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you, all.  Thank you so much.  And first of all, thank you, Charity.  Charity did a great job on that introduction.  (Applause.)  Love you all, too.  So proud.

I want to thank the Anacostia Senior High School Choir for their amazing performances. (Applause.)  And I also want to thank Brandon, Annie, and of course your valedictorian Jordan for their amazing remarks.  Let’s give them a big hand.  (Applause.)  

I want to acknowledge a couple of other people:  Malik Bazzell, Donald Hense, and all of the community leaders who have joined you all today to celebrate this morning.  Let’s give them a round of applause.  (Applause.) 

I have to tell you that it is a privilege for me to be with you.  I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.  And as you know, this is the second time that I’ve had a chance to come and spend some time with Anacostia High School students. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you!  (Applause.) 

MRS. OBAMA:  During my first visit with you all when I got to come to the school, I came away just impressed and moved by all of you.  That’s why I wanted to be here.  I was impressed by the questions you asked, by your work ethic, by your spirit, your attitude.  I loved hearing about your lives, and your hopes, and your dreams.

I’ve also enjoyed getting to know my girls, the students who are participating in the White House Mentorship Program that we set up this past year.  (Applause.)  So all these opportunities have given me a very meaningful connection to many of the amazing students who are at this school and has given me a real appreciation for this community.  And I just couldn’t wait to be here in person to say congratulations to the Class of 2010!  (Applause.)

I know this has been a long journey to get here, full of warm memories, your friendships and teachers, and maybe not-so-warm memories with rules and papers and tests.  And I know for some of you, there may have been times when you weren’t quite sure you’d make it.

But you are here.  So I want you all to soak it up.  Just soak it up.  You’re here!  You made it to this day.  I want you all graduates to pat yourselves on the back.  Do a little patting.  I want you to be proud of what you’ve accomplished to get here today, because I know your families are proud of you.  Your teachers are proud of you. And I am so proud of you all.  I really am.

And looking out at all of you, I’m reminded that many of you have overcome a lot to be here, much like the community of Anacostia itself.  Founded back in the 1800s for folks who worked at the Navy Yard across the river, Anacostia eventually became a place where people worked hard as clerks and civil servants, and as teachers and tradesmen, where families looked out for one another, where strong churches were the heart and soul of the community.

And yet, we also know that this community has had its share of struggles.  And for a long time, Anacostia was segregated.  In its early years, it was even illegal for African Americans to own land in parts of this community.  And even after those barriers were torn down, others emerged.  Poverty.  Violence.  Inequality.

But, despite these challenges, Anacostia continues to push forward.  And that’s what I admire about this community and what I admire about all of you all.  See, in the face of incredible struggles, you refuse to be defined by the hardships or the adversities.

Instead, what defines you is perseverance.  What defines you is character.  What defines you is the same commitment to education, to hard work, to setting high standards for yourselves that has made this country great.

It’s a commitment reflected in Anacostia alums like Frederick Gregory, who graduated in 1958 from this school, and became the first African American in our history to command a space shuttle.

It’s reflected in the small business owners who’ve opened up furniture stores and theaters in the community, the artists and leaders who have lived in Anacostia throughout the generations, who remain committed to the success of this community.

It’s reflected in a man once called the Sage of Anacostia, lived just a few blocks from this school, in a home called Cedar Hill that I had a chance to take my girls to last summer.  It’s a beautiful home. 

As all of you know, I’m talking about Frederick Douglass.  (Applause.)  We remember him today as one of America’s most eloquent and beloved leaders.  But I want you all to just think for a moment about what it took for Frederick Douglass to become that kind of leader.  Just think about it.  I want you to think about the odds he faced when he was your age.  This is a man who was born into slavery.  His mom died when he was a boy.  He never knew his father.  Because it was illegal to educate slaves, he taught himself how to read and write.

And when he was just a couple of years older than you all are today, he escaped from slavery, traveled all the way to England, and made friends in Britain who eventually bought his freedom.

After he returned to America, Frederick Douglass became a leading abolitionist, an advisor to President Lincoln, and an inspiration to people of every creed and color, fighting for equality not just for African Americans, but for women and others, until his final days.

So I tell you this story because it is one of the best examples in our history of the American spirit.  It’s an example of someone picking themselves up in the face of adversity, persevering through thick and thin, and proving to the world that nothing can stop a person from pursuing their dream.  And that’s the same perseverance, the same character and the spirit that I know we have in so many of you.

I imagine that for some of you all, getting this far hasn’t been easy.  Perhaps there were those who wanted to write you off, maybe because of assumptions they made about you or your school or your community.  But every day you’re proving them wrong.  You're proving that it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about you or what you can achieve.  The only thing that matters, rather, is what you think about yourself and what you’re willing to do to achieve your goals.  That's all that matters. (Applause.)  How hard are you willing to work, how big are you willing to dream?

Over this past year, so many of you have shown us exactly what you can do.  I’m told that over 100 of you in this class have college plans this year.  That’s 90 percent of this class.  (Applause.)  And that's up from under 30 last year.  What an achievement.  I’m told that 16 juniors and seniors this year have been awarded Gates Achievers’ Scholarships to college because of their academic excellence.  (Applause.)  

And I understand that student attendance for the entire school is up 20 percent from last year.  (Applause.)  See, now, that’s a tribute to you, to everyone here today.

And yet, despite all you’ve achieved, despite all the obstacles you’ve already overcome with regard to your education, many of you may still be wrestling with your own personal issues and doubts.  Maybe you’re taking care of a younger sibling, or maybe you are responsible for an aging grandparent or a child.  Maybe you’re worried about your family’s financial situation.  Or maybe you’re just feeling crushed by the weight of life’s responsibilities.

Maybe you feel like no one has your back, like you’ve been let down by people so many times that you’ve stopped believing in yourself.  Maybe you feel like your destiny was written the day you were born and you ought to just rein in your hopes and scale back your dreams.

But if any of you are thinking that way, I’m here to tell you, stop it.  Don't do that.  Don’t ever scale back your dreams.  And don’t ever set limits on what you can achieve.  And don’t think for one single moment that your destiny is out of your hands, because no one’s in control of your destiny but you.  And it is never too late.  You can do anything you put your minds to –- and I mean absolutely anything.  It’s important for you all to know this.  (Applause.)  

But what is true is that building a purposeful life for yourself is never easy.  No one achieves success overnight.  You know life doesn’t work that way.  Anything worth having takes time and perseverance.  You’re going to have to push yourselves beyond your limits.  You’re going to have to step outside of those comfort zones.  You’re going to have to ask for help when you need it.

More importantly, part of being a mature and functioning adult in this society is realizing that life is a series of tradeoffs.  If you want a career that pays a good salary, then you have to work hard.  You’ve got to be on time; you’ve got to finish what you start; you have to always keep your word.  If you want a life free from drama, then you can’t hang out with people who thrive on drama.  (Applause.)  You have to pick your friends wisely, pick your friends -- surround yourself with people who share your values and your goals.

But I am confident that if you’re willing to show that kind of commitment and do what it takes, anything is possible for every single one of you.  And you know why I’m so confident?  Because I’m looking at you.  I was watching you all.  (Laughter.)  And I see your strength.  I know what you’re capable of.  I know what kind of young men and women you are, and I want the world to know that.

This class is made up of young women like the remarkable student who introduced me, Charity, whose positive attitude is a model for everyone around her.  She’s beautiful.  (Applause.) 

Charity, she’s an editor of the paper, mentor for 9th graders, and a Gates Achievers’ Scholar, and she’ll be following her own role models –- her sisters –- to college in the fall.

This class is made up of young men like your valedictorian, Jordan Smiley, who grew up -- (applause) -- who grew up surrounded by violence, confronted by daily pressures and daily temptations to fall in with the wrong crowd.

But Jordan was blessed with amazing parents, supportive brothers and sisters.  And because of that will to overcome, he’s been captain of the football team, the track and field team, he’s president of student government.  He’s up here running this graduation.  (Laughter and applause.) 

And today, Jordan becomes the first in his family to go to college -- (applause.) 

And this class is also made up of young men like Rudolph Eastman.  Where’s Rudolph?  (Applause.)  Rudolph, I understand, was raised by a single mother, along with eight brothers and sisters, is that right?  (Applause.)  Whew, where’s Rudolph’s mother?  (Laughter and applause.) 

I understand that Rudolph’s oldest brother was killed in an act of gun violence.  But in the face of tragedy and hardship, Rudolph stayed focused, he worked hard, and today, like Jordan, he becomes the first in his family to go to college.  (Applause.) 

A belief in the importance of education.  Perseverance.  Character.  These are the qualities that Charity, Jordan, Rudolph, and so many of you embody.  And these are the same qualities you’ll need -- and more -- when you leave here and begin the next chapter of your lives.

This is equally true for those of you headed to college as it is for those of you with other plans.

To those of you who are college bound in the fall, I just hope that you make the most of that experience.  Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.  Make new friends; get to know your classmates.  Take classes that’ll challenge the way you think about the world.  Build relationships with professors that inspire you.  Don’t sit in your room, get involved in activities that spark your passions and service organizations that touch your hearts.  And the thing that I’ve been telling graduates all over this country is study abroad if you can.  Find a way to travel the world.  Above all, never stop finding new ways to push yourselves.  Never stop finding new ways to learn and to grow.

And the same goes for those of you who aren’t headed to college, because you don’t have to be on a college campus to educate yourself -- (applause) -- or to create new opportunities to grow, or to push yourself to think differently about the world.  There are opportunities all over D.C. for you to enrich your lives and your minds.

But we also know that in this difficult economy, it’s going to be tough to find a job.  That means you’re going to have to be creative with your approach.

So here’s some advice:  Be persistent.  Start with your immediate network of people -- folks like the folks up here.  Reach out to people you admire in your community -- teachers, pastors, business owners.  Talk to them about how they got started in their careers.  Ask them for advice and guidance.  And most of all, stay positive.  Believe in yourselves and in what you have to offer.

And if there aren’t immediate prospects for a paid job, then do what you can to make yourself more competitive and more marketable.  Take a class at a community college.  See what types of training programs are available at a community center.  Explore the option of community service with AmeriCorps.  Even consider an unpaid opportunity that might give you a foot in the door. 

And don’t forget, even if you’re not going to college right now, you can always apply later.  It’s never too late.
    
The point is, no matter what you’re doing next year, you have to be aggressive.  You have to seize every opportunity that’s available to you.  You can’t wait.  You can’t just sit around.  Don’t expect anybody to come and hand you anything; it doesn’t work that way.  (Applause.)  If you want your own destinies and you want to control those destinies tomorrow, you’ve got to start practicing who you want to be today, because if you’re afraid to step beyond your comfort zone today and reach for the things you want today, you’ll always be afraid.  If you’re afraid to speak up and ask for what you need today, you will always be afraid. 

Don’t (inaudible) fear, but if you begin to take control of your destiny today, graduates, if you push yourself today, if you practice taking risks today, that’s what you’ll continue to do for the rest of your lives.

And then once you do that -- once you grab hold of your future and pull yourselves up -- there’s just one more thing you have to do, and that is reach back and pull someone else up after you -- (applause) -- because the truth is none of us can succeed on our own.  We all need help along the way.

Even Frederick Douglass couldn’t succeed on his own.  He needed the help of others to learn how to educate himself.  He needed the help of others to learn how to educate himself.  He needed the help of others to gain his freedom.  He needed support to claim his own destiny.  And, graduates, so do you.

And that support will come from teachers like the ones you have at Anacostia.  It’ll come from friends, but real friends who have your best interests at heart, friends who bring out the best in you, friends who have your back and keep you focused on your dreams.  (Applause.)  And it’s all going to come from your families.  And again, we got to take a moment again to recognize the family members and to remember that many of you are here because of what they have done.  So today, to all the family members, this is your day, too.  So we got to give the family members a round of applause.  (Applause.)  

And if you’re anything like my parents were when I graduated from high school, I can imagine how you must be feeling today.  I know you’re proud.  I know you’re a little relieved.  (Laughter.)

But I suspect that some of you may also be feeling a little nervous.  Maybe you’re worried about the tough job market, and how your child will find a job in this economy.  Maybe you’re anxious about how you’re going to pay tuition.  Maybe you’re hesitant about having your child move away from home to attend college.  Or, if your kids are the first in your family to go to college, you may be wondering how you’re supposed to help them navigate experiences you’ve never had.

I understand those worries, because my parents had similar worries.  See, my parents didn’t have the money to cover college tuition for me and my brother.  Neither of my parents went to college or had any idea how to support us.

But, family members, know this:  You don’t have to have lived the kind of life you want your kids to live to help them excel.  Your kids don’t need you to be a doctor or a lawyer.  Your kids don’t need you to be rich and famous.  What they need from you is your wisdom.  What they need from you is your support.  What they need from you is love, that unconditional love -- (applause) -- the kind of love that lets them know that you will be there for them, no matter what.  That’s all your kids need.  

And trust me, I know, because when I was in their shoes, that’s all I needed.  Growing up, there were plenty of times that I doubted my capabilities, and those doubts were fueled by a lot of people around me.  Kids teasing me when I studied hard.  Teachers telling me not to reach too high because my test scores weren’t good enough.  Folks making it clear with what they said –- or didn’t say -– that success wasn’t meant for a little girl like me from the South Side of Chicago.

But let me tell you something, something else I can remember.  I remember my mom pushing me and my brother to do things she’d never done herself; things she’d been afraid to do herself.  What I can remember is my father getting up every day and going to work at the water filtration plant, even after he was diagnosed with MS, even after it got hard for him to button his shirt, and to get up and walk.  See, I remember my parents sacrificing for us, pouring everything they had into us, being there for us, encouraging us to reach for a life they never knew.

And it’s because of them and because of the support I got from teachers and mentors that I am standing here today.  (Applause.)

And if Barack were here, he’d say the same thing was true for him.  He’d tell you it was hard at times growing up without a father.  He’d tell you that his family didn’t have a lot of money.  He’d tell you he made plenty of mistakes and wasn’t always the best student.  But he’d also tell you he turned things around, thanks to his mother, his grandparents, and people who cared about him.

And listen, graduates, the reason that he and I invest so much of our time and energy in young people like you is because we see ourselves in each and every one of you.  (Applause.)

We are living proof for you that with the right support, it doesn’t matter what circumstances you were born into, or how much money you have, or what color your skin is, if you’re committed -- if you are committed to doing what it takes, anything is possible.  It’s up to you.  (Applause.) 

So, I know the journey you’ve traveled may not have been easy. I know many of you have faced more than your fair share of hardships and adversities.  I know you may be worried about what the future holds.  But you have to understand that there are a lot of people out there who believe in you.

I believe in you.  The President of the United States of America believes in you.  (Applause.)  When times are hard for us, you inspire us.  You keep us going.  And we are expecting big things from you in the years to come.  Big things!  We are counting on you to be the very best people that you can be.  We’re expecting you to show the same perseverance, the same caring, the same spirit that made it possible for you to be here today.  We’re expecting you to show the same commitment to a better life that has always made this country great.

We are expecting you not only to claim your own destiny, but to help others across Anacostia, across D.C., across America claim theirs.  And we are confident that what you’ll do is exactly that.  We know that you’ll make us proud –- because you already have.

Congratulations, Class of 2010, we love you.  (Applause.) 

END
11:02 A.M. EDT