As I sat in the second row of my commencement ceremony, across the stage stood Michelle Obama, delivering her last commencement address as the First Lady of the United States. I was completely engulfed with euphoria as she talked about the essence of education, diversity, and resilience. During what I would call one of the most memorable moments of my life, the admiration I had for her was reaffirmed. I most aspire to emulate Michelle Obama because she publically espoused values of integrity, determination, and empathy that are synonymous with my own. She has made a tremendous impact on many communities worldwide whilst maintaining her core values.
Before becoming the 44th First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama had a remarkable background as a public servant. As the Executive Director of a non-profit leadership program called Public Allies, she dedicated her time to help young adults develop skills necessary for future careers in public service. In her role as the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago, she also developed their first community service program. As First Lady, she maintained that her successes came with an obligation to share the lessons that she had learned and use the opportunities she had to help others. Throughout the presidency of Barack Obama, she focused her attention on current social issues, advocating for healthier families, women empowerment, higher education, and international adolescent girls’ education.
…show more content…
No matter what position she held, whether she was an executive director or the First Lady, she remained committed to supporting, inspiring, and uplifting the youth. Like Mrs. Obama, I intend to remain an educator and a mentor for the youth and continue partnering with non-profit organizations centered on improving the standard of