On Friday, January 6, 2017 Michelle Obama delivered her last speech as the First Lady. After sincerely thanking the audience and the school counselors on a personal level, she went on to address the improvement of higher education and students’ health—her passion. This was the main focus of her speech, the focus over the past eight years of her and Barack’s campaign to make education “cool”.
Michelle rebuked against President-elect Donald Trump with grace and with such power. Without mentioning his name, she claimed her stand for America’s youth and emphasized her appeal for hope. She said that young people “have something to offer; that no matter where they're from or how much money their parents have, no matter what they look like or who they love or how they worship or what language they speak at home, they have a place in this country."
This is what America needs to hear. She encourages us to remember during the next four years of the negative man’s reign.
She goes on to say, “know that this country belongs to you—to all of you, from every background and walk of life. If you or your parents are immigrants, know that you are part of a proud American tradition—the infusion of new cultures, talents and ideas, generation after generation, that has made us the greatest country on earth."
I’m proud to be part of the generation of young people she was speaking out to. We are going to be stuck in this vulnerable rut, and we are going to get out of it because we are this generation. “Yes, we can” is going to be our motto regardless of who our next leaders will be. We are the leaders and we are the servers of our generation and the next.
The Obamas, as a whole family lead a prime example of how understanding, togetherness and equality greatly impact the world. Presidents are people, too. We’ll never get it one-hundred percent, we’ll never satisfy everyone and we’ll always have ups and downs. But just like educators, advocates and parents, the Obamas were there to instill hope.
Michelle said, “Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don't matter, or like you don't have a place in our American story—because you do. And you have a right to be exactly who you are.” Education is essential no matter who or what you are. But who and what you are should not be taken for granted. Freedom should not be taken for granted and we have to preserve what our ancestors earned for us. With hard work and a good education, anything is possible. As a college student and considerably still a kid, it is not taken lightly to feel disregarded by our elders. We encounter the worst, painstaking obstacles and we need to be brought up rather than treated like useless millennials. There is no room for giving up, especially now.
“Right now, you need to be preparing yourself to add your voice to our national conversation. You need to prepare yourself to be informed and engaged as a citizen, to serve and to lead, to stand up for our proud American values and to honor them in your daily lives. And that means getting the best education possible so you can think critically, so you can express yourself clearly, so you can get a good job and support yourself and your family, so you can be a positive force in your communities.”
She reminds us that our diversities, faiths, colors and creeds are not a threat to who we are; it makes us who we are. “Because that is what moves this country forward every single day—our hope for the future and the hard work that hope inspires.” This eye-watering last speech of her time in the White House was truly one of the most inspiring—bold and to the point. As Barack had said in his tribute to Michelle in Chicago, she took on a role she didn’t ask for and she made it her own. My only hope is that there will be more First Ladies like her. Until then, we’ll keep holding on with the comfort of knowing that she will still be rooting for us and supporting us for the rest of her life.
As Jimmy Fallon wrote in his Thank You Notes Segment of Michelle's last late-night appearance as FLOTUS on the Tonight Show,
"Thank you Mrs. Obama for always promoting physical fitness. And, hey, since you like exercise so much, how about running for president?"
We wish.
She concludes her emotional finale with this: “Lead by example with hope, never fear.”
So, let’s go, young people. Yes, we can, we did, and we will!
