Students find inspiration, question furor at Obama speech

A message that stirred partisan furor in adults last week struck an inspirational chord with Bay area youths today as President Obama urged students to persevere in pursuit of their dreams and a good education.

In Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, students interviewed said they found important lessons in Obama's live speech to the nation's school children. Some wondered what all the earlier fuss was about.

"I was confused about it," said Ross Gray, 13, an eighth-grader at Rushe Middle School in Land O' Lakes, who questioned why it would have been OK for adults to hear the president's speech but not students, the ones affected by what he had to say.

Juan Carlos Borges, a 14-year-old freshman at Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa, said his family encouraged him to listen but he understands why parents should always decide such questions. That was the policy in most local districts, except in Polk County, where a recording of the speech won't be seen before tomorrow.

At Rushe Middle School, as many as 70 percent of the 1,300 students saw the speech because teachers worked it into their lessons, said Principal Dave Estabrook. About 10 students opted out, as did two at Brooks-DeBartolo, where 60 students watched together and others saw it in class.

Dozens of callers contacted each of the Bay area's school districts Thursday and Friday as word spread of Obama's plans to speak live to students during school hours. Some callers said they didn't want students hearing a partisan message from Obama and criticized suggested lesson plans published by the White House.

But many of those concerns were allayed when the lesson plans were changed and the White House released the text of the speech early, on Monday.

Haley Shimkonis, an 11-year-old sixth grader at Osceola Middle School in Largo, watched with her geography class and took special note of an example the president used to urge perseverance -- Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

"People try, but sometimes they don't succeed, but you have to keep trying," Shimkonis said. "With the Harry Potter, she kept trying because she got rejected 12 times and she kept trying and trying and eventually she got it."

Borges, a freshman at Brooks-DeBartolo, said he was moved by Obama's call to learn from failure.

"When I fail, I won't take it personally. I will take it as a lesson," he said.

Said Sheniqua Marcelle, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school, "You can't even pick up the trash without a diploma."

Marcelle was one of several students who identified with Obama's story of waking up early to study, a practice his mother insisted upon. Marcelle said she wakes at 5 a.m. and likes to read before school.

"I find it refreshing. I'm coming in to learn something."

At Brooks-DeBartolo, a Hillsborough charter school with more than 200 students, a donated picture of Obama hangs near the entrance and the school always planned to show his speech.

"We're all American citizens and he is the president of America," said Principal Phildra Swagger.

Swagger said she viewed the speech as an extension of a speakers series the school sponsors, which has included military brass and professional athletes.

"We weren't able to put Obama on our calendar last year, but he put us on his calendar," Swagger quipped.

Retired military officer Brian Butler, who has a senior and freshman at the school, echoed that view.

Butler said he read the speech thoroughly Monday night and saw nothing inappropriate.

"He has challenged the community, he has challenged the government, he has challenged the students," Butler said. "It's a message other presidents have shared but Obama put a little more emphasis on student responsibility."

Laritza Exposito, 14, said she will remember most what the president said about overcoming adversity.

"No matter what you've been through you can still come out and be your best," said Exposito, a freshman at the college prep school whose parents received high school diplomas in Cuba but never attended college.

"Even if your parents went through something, you can be better than what you think you'll be," Esposito added. "Whatever is going on in your life, it shouldn't affect you."