Thank you. Good morning.

I know college applications and AP requirements are taking up a lot of your time right now, so I really appreciate the opportunity to talk with you.

I have really enjoyed learning about Bodine. You have some impressive programs and clearly maximize the hours you spend in school.

• Let me ask you, how many of you are taking advanced placement courses?
• How many of you are studying a foreign language?
• How many of you are planning to go on to college?

I have no doubt you are among the most well-prepared students in our nation. The fact that you're taking international studies and languages is a real advantage. These are the skills that are going to not only make you a better, well-rounded person, but also they will help make our country better.

Now, what does that mean specifically for your future? I'd like to offer some perspective. When I was a young man in Mississippi, cyberspace was unimaginable—like science fiction. Other states like New York and California were not only physically far away, they were also things we read about and saw in the movies. Other countries seemed as far away as the stars. Today, you can "instant message" with a friend across the street, across the country or around the world. It requires an active imagination to envision what lies ahead for us in the future. As Jules Verne once said, "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real."

Through all of these rapid changes, one thing has remained constant: the importance of education. Education is still the key. It unlocks your potential. It is the foundation for success.

You must do at least these two core things to really take advantage of your great education. First, read as much as possible. Books open the world to us. They offer insight and perspective. I can't emphasize this point enough. I know many people in the highest positions who would give that same advice—reading is a key to success and lifelong learning. The accumulation of knowledge is an ongoing, never-ending process. The biggest mistake is to think you know enough. That is never true.

Second, make sure you know how to write well. Take the time to understand grammar. Take the time to understand how to communicate effectively. Writing also requires a lifelong commitment. One of the best ways to become a good writer is to read good writers. Another way is to write constantly. Often the more you write, the better a writer you become.

These are skills that remain absolutely necessary today.

If you undertake these two tasks seriously, you will remain leaps and bounds ahead of your competition. The biggest complaint I hear from college teachers and administrators is that incoming freshman have reading and writing deficiencies. You must guard against this.

Through your education, you have an opportunity for a bright future. But, not all students in our nation have this same opportunity. Our nation has historically been divided along the lines of race. I believe that as we move into the future, there will still be division. It will be the quality of our education that divides us.

President Bush saw this gap and he took action. He showed tremendous vision and leadership when he proposed the No Child Left Behind Act. With the support of Democrats and Republicans in Congress, we have set a new standard for education in our great nation.

So, I spend my days working with thousands of dedicated teachers and principals to close the divide. Each of us has a stake in this. Nothing so directly affects our well-being more than the quality of our education system.

So, we must ensure that every single child in our great nation has the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. And it will take all of us working together to accomplish this noble goal.

Because of your partnership with the World Affairs Council, you have acquired a unique international worldview. I have no doubt you will leave school well -prepared to compete for jobs in a global marketplace. But, that is not the only way you need to use this education. We have a collective responsibility to help others who have been left behind. We must lift up those who are less fortunate.

I know you hear all the time that you are our future. But I am here to tell you that you are also our "here and now." The opportunity to be a leader is not some magical moment in the future. It is right now.

I believe you are uniquely positioned to help. Consider mentoring a young person in your community. Share some of what you have learned with others. You will find that your positive influence will ripple through your community.

Consider becoming a teacher. Our teachers are making a profound difference in our nation. Teaching is an act of sharing. It is a life of service. It is the way that wisdom is passed from one generation to another. Every single one of you in this room has amazing possibilities for your future. And you can help others to have the same.

Thank you so very much for opening your school to me today. Good luck to you all.

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