#MondayMotivation: Our Woman of the Week is Michelle Obama!
By Emily Scott
Every Monday, Culturess chooses one woman in our culture to be our Woman of the Week. These women inspire and empower us to kick ass, take names, fight the good fight, and live our best lives. Today, our Woman of the Week is Michelle Obama!
Choosing this Monday’s Woman of the Week was the easiest decision I’ve ever made. Of course it’s Michelle Obama. It has to be. First of all, she deserves to be celebrated every day of the year until the end of time. Secondly, though, of course, after many years in public service and eight years in the White House, the classiest, kindest, most inspiring First Lady we could have asked for is leaving D.C. There are many, many reasons to dread that day. But instead, just for a minute, let’s focus on everything that is so incredible about Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama.
Before we even knew her name, Chicago native Michelle Obama was dedicating her life to improving the world. She graduated from Princeton with an undergraduate degree in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies, and then went on to Harvard Law School. After graduating, she went on to work at a law firm in Chicago, where she met the man who would later become her husband. But while she still has her law degree, she has worked in the public sector for most of her life, embodying her values of selfless service.
Before she was FLOTUS, she worked as the executive director of the Chicago office of Public Allies, a nonprofit organization that supports young people who want to get involved with social issues in nonprofits and in government. Then, she worked her way up to Vice President for Community and External Affairs at University of Chicago Hospitals. Even before her tenure as First Lady, she was doing everything possible to help everyone she could.
Michelle worked tirelessly helping her husband campaign for representative and for Senator. And then, when they were considering his run for president, she made a negotiation; if Barack quit smoking, she would support his decision to run. And lo, it came to pass. But not before, along with her husband, Michelle faced extremely harsh and racially motivated criticism from opponents. She endured each and every swipe at her, and only emerged the better person. Of course, eight years later, she would encapsulate this in a simple quote: “When they go low, we go high.” And Michelle always has, from her days on the campaign trail to her years in the White House.
Michelle Obama’s work as First Lady has been tireless, extensive, and monumentally effective. One of her major contributions to the culture of America has been her Let’s Move! campaign, which emphasizes healthy eating and exercise and has led to changes in schools to help combat childhood obesity. But she has also championed so many other causes, such as pay equality, LGBT+ rights, veteran’s rights, and education for girls. One of her initiatives is Let Girls Learn, a global government initiative intended to help young girls around the world overcome the obstacles between them and their education. Michelle also teamed up with Dr. Jill Biden to launch Joining Forces, a nationwide initiative to support veterans and service members. And, if that wasn’t enough, she also launched the Reach Higher initiative, which encourages and supports young Americans in seeking higher education, regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances.
First Lady Michelle Obama is a paragon of an inspiring, hardworking woman. Like President Obama recently said in his farewell address, “You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own, with grace and grit and style and good humor. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody.” She has faced every unfair, ugly word of harassment over eight years with nothing but elegance, kindness, and a renewed sense of her mission. We are all heartbroken to see her and the rest of the Obama family leave the White House this week. But the good news is, we haven’t seen the last of Michelle Obama. Whatever she does next, we know she will be on our side. Always.
This week and every week, let’s strive to be like Michelle Obama. Fighting for what’s right in quiet and loud ways. Having fun. Spreading love. Making the world the best place we can.
Thank you so much for your service to us, First Lady Michelle Obama. We can’t wait to see what you do next.
Next: Joe Biden Was Given the Presidential Medal of Freedom
You can find Michelle Obama’s work here:
Let’s Move!: You can find more information about this initiative here.
Joining Forces: You can find more information about this initiative here.
Reach Higher: You can find more information about this initiative here.
Let Girls Learn: You can find more information about this initiative here.
American Grown: You can purchase Michelle Obama’s book about the White House kitchen garden and her experiences building it on Amazon.