Which statement is a counterclaim to president obama's claim in his "back to school" speech that success in school will lead to success in life? you have to not only graduate, but you've got to keep going after you graduate. i was not always the very best student i could be when i was in high school, and certainly not when i was in middle school. it starts, obviously, with being the best student you can be. and whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation is going depend in large part on you.