In an address to schoolchildren, the US president said on Tuesday there was currently great hope and potential in America but its fulfilment required continual hard work and people taking personal responsibility.
Mr Obama began his speech: 'I want to start with the responsibility you have to yourself. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer.
'And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide.'
He added that while school may not always necessarily be fun or stimulating, hard work was required no matter what a student's circumstances were.
'The circumstances of your life - what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you've got going on at home - none of that is an excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school,' he said.
'That's no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. There is no excuse for not trying.
'Where you are right now doesn't have to determine where you'll end up. No one's written your destiny for you, because here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future.'
Mr Obama said his administration were dedicated to improving education in America, but said students had to play their part to calling on the children to 'get serious' this year.
'I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of you. So don't let us down,' he added.
'Don't let your family down or your country down. Most of all don't let yourself down. Make us all proud.'
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