Obama ranks sixth on the list of the world's top 10 inspirational and successful people

On the way to great success, it is rarely smooth sailing. But some people have to face great adversity and manage to succeed in the face of adversity. It's important to keep these stories in mind at all times, and to know that whether you're at the bottom of the ladder or at the top of the hill, it's never possible or too late to achieve greatness. Here are some of the most impressive examples from zero to hero in sports, politics, business, and the media.

President Barack Obama is the first black president and the first African-American president in U.S. history.

After earning a bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in 1983, Obama worked for a year at an international business company before becoming a $13,000-a-year community organizer in Chicago in 1985, working with Chicago churches on charitable projects. After volunteering in Chicago for three years, Obama attended Harvard Law School and received his Juris Doctor in 1991. After returning to Chicago, he specialized in civil rights litigation and began his many years as a "daili of the poor."

In 1996, Obama was elected to the Illinois Legislature from Chicago's 13th District on the basis of his community work experience and the social impact that work had on him. In October 2004, he was elected by a landslide to become the fifth African-American senator in U.S. history.

In February 2007, Obama, ranked 98th out of 100 senators in Congress, announced his bid for the presidency in 2008 and won by a landslide. Obama's success stems not only from the historical pattern of American society, but also from his truly deep connection with the people, the Chinese style of "from the masses, to the masses."

After receiving his bachelor's degree, Obama had a decent job offer and a good salary, but he was not moved by the immediate interests and decided to devote himself to the community, starting as a volunteer. It is also the experience of community work in these years that enables Obama to have a deep understanding of the bottom society and people in the United States, and develop a people-oriented thinking.

On the first day of school, President Barack Obama plans to tell students to study, wash their hands and remember that J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter manuscript was rejected 12 times before it was finally published

I often felt lonely and insecure as a child

Using his own upbringing to emphasize hard work, responsibility and perseverance, Obama encouraged students to keep pursuing their dreams and exhorted them to develop good habits, according to a copy of his speech that has been released.

In his notes, Obama spoke of two memorable personal experiences -- his father's return to Kenya when he was two years old and his mother's discipline.

When I was young, I spent some time in Malaysia, and my mother couldn't afford to send me to the local American school, so she decided to teach me extra lessons herself. I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

I used to fall asleep at the dinner table, and whenever I complained, my mother would say, 'I didn't have a picnic either but I never complained, you naughty boy.

'" He says the home environment is no excuse for putting off homework or having a bad attitude.

Obama also quoted famous British author J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. Rowling's story to teach children to be unafraid of setbacks.

"Rowling's first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was published... There are times when I feel lonely and insecure... Instead of letting failure define your life, learn from it and you will be different next time, "the speech says." Resolve to do everything well... This is America. You can write your own destiny. You make your own future."

At the end of his speech, Obama urged students to aim high, such as becoming a writer, an inventor, a Supreme Court justice and even the president of the United States.

"I want you to wash your hands a lot... That way we can avoid the threat of flu in the fall and winter."

Parents are protesting for fear of political speech

The speech, scheduled for the same day at a school in Arlington, Virginia, will be the first time Mr. Obama has spoken directly to the nation's schoolchildren.

It will be broadcast live on the White House website and CNN.

But the speech had not even begun, and already a chorus of protest had begun.

A week ago, the secretary of education sent a letter to school principals across the country urging them to call on students to watch the speech, only to face an immediate backlash from schools and parents.

The US Department of Education has also been criticised for advising students to write letters with the subject "How to help the president".

Opponents say the Obama administration is trying to sell its political message to students.

A mother of one child even shed tears in an interview with CNN, saying she feared Obama's speech would have a negative impact on her children.

The White House released the speech in advance to tell parents that Mr. Obama is simply encouraging students to work hard and set goals in life.

"You might become a writer, publish a book or a newspaper article -- but you wouldn't know it if you didn't hand in your Chinese homework.

You may be an innovator or an inventor, coming up with the next iPhone or a new drug, but without experimenting you may not know your potential.

You might make a good mayor, senator, or even chief justice, but you wouldn't know that until you joined student government and debating competitions."

"I hope each of you will use your talents, skills and intellect to help us solve our most difficult problems.

If you don't, if you give up on learning, then you're not only giving up on yourself, you're giving up on your country."

"I think of Anthony Schultz in California, who has been battling brain cancer since he was three years old, has gone through treatments that have impaired his memory, has spent hundreds of hours doing his homework, but has never fallen behind, and is going to college this semester.

Then there's Sandy Steves of Chicago, who was abandoned by many of her adoptive families but found work at a local health center.

So each of you is going to set a goal and do everything you can to achieve it."