Students miss prom so bad they urge Obama to deliver commencement speech for them
As COVID-19 cases continue to go up, schools and universities have closed their doors to the students. Following this, various educational institutions have switched to the digital medium to host lessons in an online classroom setting through conference video calls or on live-streaming platforms.
But the reason that most high school and college seniors are devastated by the nationwide lockdown and quarantine measures is that they have to forego the most-anticipated school festivities of the year — prom night and graduation. A disappointed senior took to Twitter and tagged former US President Barack Obama. He implored Obama to upload a commencement speech video on the internet, addressing fellow students across the nation who wouldn't be able to get their prom and graduation experience this year.
"Hi @BarackObama Like most high school/college seniors, I’m saddened by the loss of milestone events, prom & graduation. In an unprecedented time, it would give us great comfort to hear your voice. We ask you to consider giving a national commencement speech to the class of 2020 #ObamaCommencement2020", he tweeted.
Obama has delivered up to two dozen commencement speeches at various universities in the country during the tenure of his eight-year presidency, and many more thereafter. With his penchant for inspiring words, his speeches have won the hearts and minds of the multitude of students that he has addressed. Not only has he touched upon topics spanning life after graduation and employment, but he's also covered areas like embracing being black, self-reliance, national unity and more, igniting a spark in his listeners.
The tweet garnered several positive responses with several chanting bold 'YES!' in the comments, as several also expressed their disappointment at missing out on this milestone, IRL.
"YESSS!!! Obama gave the commencement address at my Northwestern graduation ceremony, and he was of course FANTASTIC. He should absolutely do this for the classes of 2020," one Twitter user said.
At the 2006 Northwestern University, Illinois graduation, Obama said: "The world doesn’t just revolve around you."
In his powerful, thought-provoking commencement speech, he stressed upon the importance of empathy, saying, "There’s a lot of talk in this country about the federal deficit. But I think we should talk more about our empathy deficit — the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes; to see the world through those who are different from us — the child who’s hungry, the laid-off steelworker, the immigrant woman cleaning your dorm room."
"As you go on in life, cultivating this quality of empathy will become harder, not easier. There’s no community service requirement in the real world; no one forcing you to care. You’ll be free to live in neighborhoods with people who are exactly like yourself, and send your kids to the same schools, and narrow your concerns to what’s going in your own little circle", he added.
"Not only that — we live in a culture that discourages empathy. A culture that too often tells us our principle goal in life is to be rich, thin, young, famous, safe, and entertained. A culture where those in power too often encourage these selfish impulses," Obama had said.
"Oh boy, as someone who returned to school at 52 and was supposed to graduate in May...man, this would be AMAZING", another user tweeted with evident glee.
Another said "Oh please say yes to this brilliant idea! Please bring hope to millions of seniors!"
To all female-class graduating at Barnard College, New York in 2016, Obama spoke about working towards gender equality. "My first piece of advice is this. Don’t just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet: fight for a seat at the head of the table," he said.
With empowering words as these, it comes as no surprise that the class of 2020 would want to hear from the beloved public speaker.