When I heard the First Lady of the United States, or FLOTUS, Michelle Obama was coming to campus, I couldn’t believe it. I knew attending a college right beside Washington, D.C. was beneficial, especially during a presidential race like this one, but I never imagined it would provide the opportunity to see one of the most influential people in the country. I knew from the get-go that I had to see her speak, and that night, I RSVP-ed on the website for Hillary Clinton, the candidate who Mrs. Obama was endorsing for president. On the Friday of the event, September 16, I waited in the longest line I could ever imagine, for nearly three full hours, fighting the campus bees and sneaky line-cutters just to hear what First Lady Obama had to say—and the sores on my feet were all worth it.

After numerous representatives and Democratic National Convention officials spoke, including the First Lady of Virginia, Dorothy McAuliffe, Michelle Obama came out to an already-pumped crowd, screeching cheers, and chants of “four more years!” the latter of which the FLOTUS calmed the best she could. Everyone in the crowd was eager to hear what she had to say, and we all held on to every joke (like trying to get the security deposit back on the White House) and story (she’s looking for a new job, just so you know) she told. She engaged us with comedic lines and serious notions (and, yes, Mrs. Obama, I agree a president shouldn’t just “pop off” whenever they want to).

But there was one quote from Michelle Obama that caught my attention and stuck with me from the event. It made me think about why I value the Obamas so much, and why they have been so important in my life. With the power and might in her voice that the FLOTUS carries during high points in her speeches, she said, “We live in a country where a girl like me, from the southside of Chicago whose great-great-grandfather was a slave, can go to some of the finest universities on Earth. We live in a country where a biracial kid from Hawaii named Barack Obama, the son of a single mother, can become president; [...].” This sentiment was met with loud cheers, a show of appreciation for the hardships that the Obamas have overcome together.

I remember when President Barack Obama was first elected back in 2008, how I sat in front of the television as electoral votes poured in from all of the states nationwide. I was just ten years old and didn’t understand what my parents were explaining to me about politics. All I knew was that there was going to be a president who reminded me of the male figures in my life; a First Lady just as strong as my mother and aunts. From the moment the Obamas stepped in the White House, I have always been able to relate to them in some way. Whether it was in looks or family history, Barack and Michelle Obama have meant more to me than just a president and First Lady. They have been role models, success stories that your upbringing, or skin color, doesn’t define you. They’re proof that determination can take you far, and it is always possible to break from tradition. When Obama was inaugurated in January 2009, my predominantly black fifth-grade class treated it like an award ceremony, and we watched history being made live on a roll-in tv, eyes glued to the screen in awe.

Since then, it has always been a dream of mine to hear the President or First Lady speak in-person. I watched their speeches at events like the Democratic National Convention or the White House Correspondents Dinner, amazed at how they made talks about politics so interesting for everyone, how they had such strong stage presence and charm to draw anyone in. Being in that crowd at the Johnson Center was magical. Everyone knew how important this stop was for the presidential race and for Mrs. Obama. We all cheered together, laughed together, and ached in pain from standing together, creating bonds just by the excitement to hear the FLOTUS speak. She stressed how important it was that we, as young people, vote, and vote wisely, giving figures of how Obama won some states, like Ohio and Florida, in 2012 by literally nine and six votes, respectively, per precinct. He won Virginia by 31 votes per precinct. “It’s going to take work,” she said. “We can do this.”

Though Mrs. Obama’s speech was meant to be a promotion to elect Clinton as president, it didn’t

just feel like that. I left the event feeling empowered and confident in my vote this election. Throughout the speech, the FLOTUS emphasized how important each one of us are to the election this year, and how important it is that we support and show love to each other despite the hate and negativity being spread in this race. At the end of her speech, after all of the cheering, screaming, and laughs, she told us that Virginia can strongly affect this election, and how we as young people have the power to promote change. As she began to close, Michelle Obama left us with one question: “Are you ready, Virginia?” And I can honestly say I’ve never felt more prepared to vote this November.