The First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, lives in no one’s shadow. Through her efforts she has made the case to go down as one of the greatest First Ladies that this nation has ever seen. She is smart, effortlessly chic, a leader, an innovator, an attentive mother, a supportive wife, and a proud African American woman. The world has watched her navigate the painful experience of being ridiculed tirelessly, which is in fact a struggle that many African American women can relate to. Yet, she has handled her position with poise and resilience. With that said, she has been an outstanding ambassador for African American women and an inspiration to all women as she continues to shine as a proponent of change and the right hand to the leader of the free world.
First Lady Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, a Chicago native, made history as the first African American First Lady of the United States of America. During her tenure as First Lady, she has made it her mission to champion education, health, and veteran affairs. The First Lady received her B.A. in sociology from Princeton and law degree from Harvard University, making her one of three First Ladies to have a postgraduate degree.
Public service is nothing new for First Lady Michelle who spent a great deal of time working in public service after she left corporate law. Her work experience includes working as an assistant to Mayor Richard Daley, working in the non-profit sector as the executive director for a young adult skill development program, and she also developed the University of Chicago’s first community service program while working as the Associate Dean of student services.
First Lady Michelle Obama has been an integral part of her husband’s political career, from Senate to Presidency, having campaigned tirelessly on his behalf. She adopted the nickname “The Closer” after garnering so much success on the campaign trail. In a pivotal moment when President Obama was seeking re-election, First Lady Michelle gave a rousing speech that moved the crowd to tears having said, “If we want to give all of our children a foundation for their dreams, and opportunities worthy of their promise…if we want to give them that sense of limitless possibility. That belief that here in America there is always something better out there if you’re willing to work for it. Then we must work like never before and we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward. My husband. Our President, Barack Obama.”
The First Lady has led by example, working hard to launch and maintain initiatives near and dear to her heart at home and abroad. She launched the “Let’s Move” campaign which serves to eradicate childhood obesity. In African American and Hispanic communities, childhood obesity rates soar, which is likely due to the lack of access to healthy food options. Recognizing this issue, First Lady Michelle has made it her mission to provide healthy food choices for children and important information for parents in schools. She has traveled around the country (with the help of a few celebrity friends) sharing workout tips, dancing with the youth, and discussing at length the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
The First Lady is a proponent of organic foods and instructed the White House cooks to prepare meals for her family and guests from the organic garden she planted. Mrs. Obama’s book, “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America” details her commitment to healthy living and organic food.
President Barack Obama inherited a country returning from a decade of war and First Lady Michelle Obama has been committed to supporting veterans as they transition from military life to civilian life. She and Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, launched “Joining Forces”, a campaign that focuses on the incredibly unique needs of veterans which include but are not limited to employment, education, and wellness. Michelle said of these families on the campaign trail that “We have to rally around for these families. We have to be that safety net for them because, they’re leaving to serve us. They’re fighting for the rights and freedoms of all of us. And that’s what’s moved me about this effort.” She has connected with these families and refuses to let go.
In an effort to inspire American students to take charge of their future by pursuing higher education beyond high school, the First Lady launched “Reach Higher,” “My own education opened doors and windows, opportunities that I could never have imagined. I grew up in a working class family that valued education and there are millions of girls and families like that, they are doing whatever it takes.” Another branch of this program is called “Better Make Room” designed to create and expand educational opportunities for young people between the ages of 14 – 19. Her passion for education has reached an international front having launched a new initiative called “Let Girls Learn.” This campaign was in part inspired by the story of Malala Yousafzai, (the youngest Nobel Prize laureate and Pakistani activist for female education) who suffered a terrible tragedy fighting for the right to an education. Her goal is to get an estimated 62 million girls worldwide out of circumstances that range from child labor, poverty and forced marriages, out of despair and into classrooms.
I would be remiss to not mention First Lady Michelle’s fashion sense and trendsetting power. Even in fashion she has managed to be generous, making careers through her endorsements; Jason Wu, Tracy Reese and Narciso Rodriguez to name a few. From the start, the First Lady has been a big supporter of young fashion designers and has made it a point to give a diverse group of people the opportunity to have their work displayed.
These accomplishments are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how impactful First Lady Michelle Obama has been and how impactful she will be upon leaving the White House. She is an inspirational figure for all women having said, “real meaningful change in communities doesn’t happen from the top down, it happens from the ground up.” She is a relatable person who many women can identify with. Her beauty is beyond surface as she spends her days using her platform to shine a light on difficult issues and be a voice for the voiceless. She commands respect and carries herself with confidence. Seeing as how the first African American family inhabiting the White House revealed the tension that still exists in this country, she managed to navigate race and gender, with grace and dignity while still accomplishing her goals and bridging the bi-partisan gap by tackling common human interests. She, along with her husband President Barack Obama, present a fine example of a healthy marriage and supportive relationship.
Their beautiful daughters Malia and Sasha have grown up admirably under the guidance of their parents. FLOTUS has described herself as, “first and foremost, [I am] Malia and Sasha’s mom.”
The First Lady said of her departure, “I will be in my early 50s when I leave here, and I have so much more that I should do. I don’t have the right to just sit on my talents or blessings. I’ve got to keep figuring out ways to have an impact — whether as a mother or as a professional or as a mentor to other kids”.
Michelle Obama once said of her husband, “Being President doesn’t change who you are; it reveals who you are.” The same goes for FLOTUS as her tenure as the First Lady of the United States has revealed what a truly remarkable woman she is. Thank you, First Lady Michelle Obama, for being an inspiration to us all.
Yes, She Did.
