I'm running for president because I love my country. And I want to make sure that when you grow up, you can be whatever you want to be - whether it's a teacher, a nurse, a construction worker or a newspaper reporter. I'm running for president to make sure that, if you want, you can run for president one day, too.

When I was a kid, my parents taught me a lesson that I want to share with you. They taught me that if you stand up for your beliefs, hold onto your dreams, and never ever give up, there's no telling what you can achieve. That's been true for me. And I want to make sure that's true for you and every kid in America.

It's a great privilege to run for president. It's a lot of fun, too. I get to travel all across the country and talk with people about what's important to them - their safety, their jobs, their health care and many other issues. It means so much to my wife, Teresa, and me that so many families have taken us into their homes, shared their stories, and told us their dreams.

We need to do all we can to improve their lives. We need to make America a stronger country. Some of you may go to very good schools. But many kids go to schools that need repairs. Some of you may have the latest textbooks. But many kids use textbooks that are out of date. We need to make sure that every school has what it needs to give every kid the best education.

Lots of people in this country are out of work or have jobs that don't pay as much as they used to. And when a parent doesn't have a job - or a good paying job - it's hard on the whole family. So we need to make sure all Americans have good paying jobs so they can get ahead and provide for their families - and for you.

We live in a time of great challenges, and we must rise to meet them. We need to make our country safer and more secure. We need to make sure America is respected in the world - just like we always have been.

A couple of years ago, I was talking with my daughter, Alex, and I said something to her that I want you to know, too. I said, if there's something you don't like, speak up. If there's something that needs to be changed, change it. And always remember that you are alive and that you are an American. Those two things make you the luckiest kid in the world.

As an American, you also have some responsibilities. One of them is to take part in our elections. You can take part by covering an election for your school newspaper or by putting up a sign in your window or front yard. And you can remind your parents how important it is for them to vote. But no matter what you do or what candidate you like, it's really important to get involved. You can make a difference - that's what America is all about.