CovLC continues its celebration of Black History Month by looking at some well-known figures, who in some way help to mold the world we live in today. One person who has done what no other has at this time is former president Barack Obama. Let us look at how education helped to mold him for the task he faced.
Barack Obama was the 44th President of the United States and is widely recognized as one of the most influential presidents in modern history. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful leaders in the world.
It’s no secret that education played a major role in Obama’s success as President. From attending Harvard Law School to serving as editor of the Harvard Law Review, Obama has always had an appreciation for learning and education. In this article, we will take a look at how education shaped his life and career and how it contributed to his success as the leader of the free world.
From a young age, Barack Obama's education shaped his life in profound ways. Obama was born in 1961 to a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya. His parents divorced when he was two, and he was raised by his maternal grandparents. As a child, Obama attended Catholic school in Indonesia before moving back to the United States to attend high school in Hawaii.
Obama's time at Occidental College in Los Angeles shaped his worldview and set him on the path to becoming a community organizer. He then went on to attend Columbia University in New York City, where he became interested in politics. After graduating from Columbia, Obama worked as a community organizer in Chicago before attending Harvard Law School.
After graduation, Obama returned to Chicago to work as a civil rights lawyer. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School. In 2004, Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American senator from Illinois. He was re-elected to the Senate in 2008 and ran for president in 2012, winning the election to become the 44th President of the United States.
As President, Obama has made education one of his top priorities. He has worked to improve access to early childhood education, expand financial aid for college students, and make college more affordable for all Americans. Through his efforts, millions of students have been able to get a quality education that will help them succeed in life.
As the first African American president, Barack Obama's election was a historic moment not only for America but also for the world. For many, Obama's election represented a new era of hope and possibility; an era in which anything is possible regardless of race or background. As president, Obama has worked hard to promote education as a means of achieving success in life.
In his 2013 State of the Union Address, President Obama said, "It is our unfinished task to make sure that every child grows up not just learning how to read and write, but also learning how to think for themselves, how to think critically and creatively, how to innovate and invent." He continued by saying that "the future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create."
President Obama recognizes that education is the key to success in life. He has made it a priority of his administration to increase access to quality education for all Americans. He has also worked to improve the quality of education by promoting initiatives like early childhood education and competitive grants for schools that are working to improve student outcomes.
The president knows that educated citizens are vital to maintaining a strong democracy and economy. In a speech at Morehouse College in 2013, he said "No matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, none of that means anything if you don’t have an education."
Considering what the former president shared with his country, you can see the role our services will play in helping others reach their goals to be better equipped to be of service to their country and themselves. Our celebration of Black History Month will continue to showcase some of those who made a difference by being well-educated.
