Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the annual convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), during which I attended an event that gathered more than 1,500 Latinos and the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.
During the event, the First Lady emphasized the importance of education for the success of our country in addition to ensuring that younger generations complete their university studies.
I applaud the First Lady for talking about such an important issue that I am also truly passionate about.
This is not just about the future of the country but about the future of our community and my own children, who still have a lot of ground to cover in their trajectory through the education system.
The reality is that there are still many young Latinos throughout the country that are not finishing their studies, whether high school or college. In today’s economy it is essential to have a post-secondary education, either collegiate or vocational.
With less than 15 percent of Latinos in the United States over the age of 25 with a university degree, it is imperative that our community pay attention to this important issue.
The Latino community must work together to ensure that our children and young people all across the country complete some type of post-secondary education.
For example, as parents we should read to our children at an early age and make sure to turn off the television, and pay attention to their studies and homework every night.
Additionally, young people also have an important role to play. They must ensure that their highest priority is their education, as well as serve as a model for others in their communities.
The First Lady’s initiative, “Reach Higher” focuses on inspiring all youth in the country to complete their post-secondary studies. The initiative also urges private and public companies, as well as educational institutions and governments at the local and state level to seek new ways to support our young people and ensure that they have the tools necessary to succeed.
The First Lady also took the time to remind us about the importance of being proactive in ensuring that our children have the tools necessary to flourish.
For example, we must look at our surroundings and begin asking ourselves if the high schools in our community offer advanced courses, or if the community library offers reading programs during the summer.
Being active participants in the future of our children is the only way in which we can ensure the United States remains the greatest country in the world, and that our children have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
This piece originally appeared in Spanish in Washington Hispanic
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