Michelle Obama – A role model for young women today

She was the first lady of the United states of America from 2009 till 2016 and was the most educated first lady too. Michelle was a fashion icon, a role model for young women and an advocate for poverty awareness.

Michelle was born in 17th January 1964. She was the first African-American first lady and the wife of the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama. She graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School, and spent her early legal career working at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her husband. She married Barack Obama in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia Ann and Natasha.

During the campaign for her husband, Michelle committed to stay away overnight only once a week so that she will not be missing her time with her daughters.

Michelle Obama was raised United Methodist and joined the Trinity United Church of Christ, where she and Barack Obama got married.

She worked in Sidley & Austin, held public sector positions in the Chicago city government as an Assistant to the Mayor, and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development, became executive director for the Chicago office of Public Allies,a non-profit organization encouraging young people to work on social issues. She worked here for almost four years and set fundraising records for the organization that still stood 12 years after she left. Michelle worked as an Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago.

During one of her campaign, her boss at the University of Chicago asked her whether there was any single thing about campaigning that she enjoyed. She replied after a pause stating that visiting so many living rooms had given her some new decorating ideas.

In May 2007, three months after her husband declared his presidential candidacy, Michelle reduced her professional responsibilities by 80 percent to support his presidential campaign. She wrote her own speeches for the campaign and generally spoke without notes.

During her early months as First Lady, Obama visited homeless shelters. In 2009, Michelle Obama was named Barbara Walters’ Most Fascinating Person of the year. She advocated on behalf of military families, helping working women balance work and family. In April 2012, Michelle and her husband were awarded the Jerald Washington Memorial Founders’ Award by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).The award is the highest honor given to homeless veteran advocates. She was again honored with the award in May 2015.

She was a woman of iron will and a kind heart. She once said “Success is only enjoyable and meaningful if it feels like your own”.