Two days after that horror, I traveled to Sandy Hook to tell the people of Newtown that they were not alone – that we shared their grief, that they inspired us, and that for them, we would try to change. That’s all still true. We still share their grief. We’re still inspired by the survivors and the families who have worked to make a difference. And we’ve tried to change. My administration has taken action to tighten the background check system and make it more efficient, strengthen enforcement of existing laws, boost gun safety technology, and help more Americans suffering with mental illness get the help they need. Still, Congress failed to pass gun safety reforms, including universal background checks that had the bipartisan support of the vast majority of Americans, even as more mass shootings have riddled America in the years since. But I still believe that there are enough good people on both sides of this issue who care more about protecting our kids than defending effortless access to guns for those who would do our kids harm. I still believe we have the courage to change.

And when I look back over the years, what strikes me most about my girls is that, despite the challenges that have come their way, they have remained extraordinarily kind. They treat people with the respect and understanding that all of us deserve -- no matter who we are, where we come from, who we love, or what we believe. It's that bedrock belief in decency that can only come from an inherent optimism about the road ahead. And it’s what I find in all the young people I meet when I travel the country and the world.

So today, as we gather to spend time with the people who matter most, let's take some time to remind our children why we are so thankful for them. Because of them, I feel more certain than ever that -- no matter what lies ahead -- America will always be shaped by those who strive to be kind, giving, and fearless about the future. I'm grateful for that.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

At the heart of America is the idea that we're all imperfect. We all make mistakes. We have to take responsibility and learn from those mistakes. And we as a society have to make sure that people who do take responsibility for their mistakes are able to earn a second chance to contribute to our communities and our country. It's the right thing to do. It's the smart thing to do. Now it’s up to good minds on both sides of the aisle to come together to restore fairness in our criminal justice system, use our tax dollars more effectively, and give second chances to those who have earned them.

Sharron is a Republican and a gun owner. And like the vast majority of the American people, including the vast majority of gun owners, she recognizes the importance of addressing the epidemic of gun violence in our country -- which we can do through advances in technology. In the greatest, most technologically advanced nation on Earth, we should be using all the tools we have to keep people safe. We make sure children can’t open a bottle of aspirin – why wouldn’t we make sure that they can’t pull a trigger on a gun?

That’s why today, I am proud to announce that the Department of Justice is releasing, for the first time, a detailed description of the minimum technical requirements that law enforcement agencies expect from smart gun technology. This will help make sure that any smart gun technology made available to law enforcement agencies is safe and reliable -- and it's a critical step toward jumpstarting the development of smart gun technology. A group of experts led by DOJ’s National Institute of Justice worked closely with law enforcement officers, firearms manufacturers, innovators, and other stakeholders across the country -- as well as other experts from the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense – to develop these specifications. They’re not mandating that anyone buy or make guns with advanced safety technology – but these specifications chart a path forward for making that an option in the marketplace.

As I’ve said before, we will never be able to stop every act of violence. But if we can take even one action, that saves even one life, we have an obligation to try. If we care about our kids and our country, we can find the courage to come together and take sensible actions to tackle our epidemic of gun violence. If we do, we’ll build a safer and stronger country that’s worthy of the memories of those we’ve lost and the lives we can still save.

I was proud to be the first President to host a Diwali celebration at the White House in 2009, and Michelle and I will never forget how the people of India welcomed us with open arms and hearts and danced with us in Mumbai on Diwali. This year, I was honored to kindle the first-ever diya in the Oval Office - a lamp that symbolizes how darkness will always be overcome by light. It is a tradition that I hope future Presidents will continue.

On behalf of the entire Obama family, I wish you and your loved ones peace and happiness on this Diwali.

That's why over the past eight years, my Administration has put in place rules that prevent excessive delays on the tarmac, permit ticket cancellations in more scenarios, require airlines to hold reservations or provide refunds within a 24-hour window, and provide better compensation to consumers who've been involuntarily bumped from oversold flights.

They're commonsense steps -- and today we're building on that progress with new actions to save you money, create more competition among airlines, and help you see (and get) exactly what you're paying for. These new steps include adding more protections for travelers with disabilities -- and requiring airlines to show you how often they lose luggage and how likely you are to reach your destinations on time.

All of this should help you make better decisions for yourselves and your families. Because for an industry that is so central to our lives, the principle should be simple: treat folks fairly, and give everybody the information they need to make smart decisions.

Every young person in America deserves the same opportunities I had: a world-class education, a pathway to apply for college or find a job, and a chance to lay a foundation for a career and a family.

But the fact is that in America, some groups have the odds stacked against them across multiple generations. And by so many measures, the group that is facing some of the most severe challenges in the 21st century are boys and young men of color.

That’s why we started My Brother’s Keeper: to bring together the private and public sector to ensure that all young people in America can reach their full potential.

In just two years, My Brother’s Keeper has come a long way. Nearly 250 communities across 50 states, 19 tribal nations, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have committed to supporting our kids from cradle to college to career. We’ve implemented new federal programs that are breaking down barriers to opportunity. And foundations and companies have made more than $1 billion in commitments to strengthen communities and transform lives.

I’ll be talking more about the progress that we’ve made with My Brother’s Keeper tonight in a conversation at North Carolina A&T State University. You can watch on ESPN's Facebook page at 10pm ET.

If Michelle and I had a son, we’d want him to have the same thing we want for our daughters – to grow up with a boundless sense of possibility. We’d want him to have respect for himself and for others, a commitment to hard work, and the opportunity to achieve his dreams. As Americans, that’s what we should all want for all children.

So as we kick off a new school year, I want to remind young people and families about FAFSA -- the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It used to be a complicated form. We've made it simple. It doesn't cost anything. It doesn't take a long time to fill out. Once you do, you put yourself in the running for all kinds of financial support for college -- scholarships, grants, loans, work-study jobs. I know what a difference it can make -- Michelle and I got through college with the support of loans and grants. Grants helped my mother raise two kids by herself while she got through school.

You can fill it out starting today, October 1. We're also allowing families to use a prior year's income, which means you don't have to wait until you file your taxes to fill out the form -- you can use information that's already available. Millions more students and families can use this easier FAFSA, making it more likely that you can get the financial aid you're eligible for.

The bottom line is, there's no excuse not to fill out your FAFSA as soon as possible. Think about it -- unless you fill it out, you won't know if you're eligible for free money for college. That's like leaving a wad of cash on the table. Who does that? So go to FAFSA.gov and get started -- it's a big step in the right direction.

Those are the words of a six-year-old boy -- a young child who has not learned to be cynical or suspicious or fearful of other people because of where they come from, how they look, or how they pray.

We should all be more like Alex. Imagine what the world would look like if we were. Imagine the suffering we could ease and the lives we could save.

Listen to Alex, read his letter, and I think you'll understand why I shared it with the world. wh.gov/refugees