By Danielle Turcotte
Meridian Times staff writer
“From the earliest days of our founding, America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That’s how we win the future.”
In the annual State of the Union address delivered on Tuesday evening, President Obama discusses the importance of Republicans and Democrats coming together and how the people of America must “out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world.”
The key theme in his speech was how important it is that today’s youth gets an education.
“In a single generation, revolutions in technology have transformed the way we live, work and do business. Steel mills that once needed a thousand workers can now do the same work with a hundred. Today, just about any company can set up shop, hire workers, and sell their products wherever there’s an Internet connection,” he told Congress.
Many people are nervous for what is to come. The unemployment rate has reached 9.4 percent and it is a tough market to even get hired, whether one has a degree or not. For 2011, one of his main goals is to focus on job creation.
Class of 2009 Okemos High School graduate Cheyenne Roy explains how she fears for her future. Although she is on the right track by getting a college degree in professional writing at Michigan State University, she still has some hesitations. She said, “I’m about as nervous as anybody else is with this economy and the way the job market seems to be shaping up, but my profession will hopefully involve digital and technical writing so if everything works out technology may end up helping me get a job.”
Americans have infinite resources at their fingertips, therefore they simply has to use it to their advantage. A competitive, optimistic attitude is one that will benefit the world and help get the economy going again. Roy displays such an attitude in hope of winning her future.
“The thing about technology is most people need it and use it all the time, but have no idea how to properly understand it. Hopefully, the job I eventually get will help people make more sense of technology and new software. Fingers crossed, anyway,” Roy added.
Lilian Chavira, a resident of Meridian Township and a small business owner, was sure to never give up her passion. Obama spoke of how America is filled with people who make their dreams become a reality. Ultimately that is how one wins the future.
“It was hard to start a new business especially one in this rough economy,” Chavira said. “But it is possible, especially when you are surrounded with the right support and resources.”
According to a CBS News Poll, 83 percent of speech watchers approve of President Obama’s State of the Union proposals. Vote below if you approve or disapprove the message.
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