The journey of former First lady Michelle Obama

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The journey of former First lady Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is an American author, lawyer, and wife of former U.S. president Barack Obama. Her maiden name is Michelle LaVaughn, Robinson Obama. According to Time100, Michelle Obama is counted as one of the most influential people as of 2019.

She served as the first lady of the United States as well as set a record for first-ever African-American first lady from 2009 to 2017 in history. People also call her the woman behind Barack Obama as she is always there to support her husband.

Michelle Obama is talented in many ways. Before serving a role as the first lady of the U.S., she was a lawyer, administrator, and community-outreach worker in Chicago. She has always focused on improving the social situation. She empowers women and actively participates in awareness for poverty, education, and a healthy lifestyle. Plus her fashion sense is very magnificent and often titled as a fashion icon.

A real Chicago legend

The Chicago legend, Michelle Obama’s birthday is on January 17, 1964, and born in Chicago, Illinois. Mr.Fraser Robinson and Mrs.Marian Robinson became the proud parents of their daughter Michelle Obama. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois along with her older brother Craig Malcolm Robinson. Michelle admires her brother the most as he never fails to inspire her throughout her life.

Michelle Obama’s father was a Democratic precinct, a city pump operator and her mother was a secretary at Spiegel’s. It was hard for her mother to look after 2 children who were only 21 months apart. So her mother left her job to take care of her children.

Michelle Obama as a kid: The smart kid

At a very young age of four, Michelle and her brother both learned to read at home. Both were good at studies as their parents emphasized education since childhood. As for Michelle Obama’s high school, she attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, the first high school for gifted children. Michelle Obama as a kid was very troublesome and was a very curious and stubborn person. She used to question everything and needed answers for her unanswerable questions.

As a smart kid since childhood, she became the student government’s treasurer in her high school. Impressively, she graduated in 1981 as a class salutatorian.

After graduation, Michelle Obama continued to college for higher studies. She attended Princeton University following his brother who already enrolled at Princeton. During her university period, she explored the school’s black alumni and communities. Spectacularly, Michelle graduated cum Laude with a B.A. in Sociology in 1985. With an immense interest in law, Michelle joined Harvard Law School after her college. She carried out demonstrations for enrollment and hiring of a few students and professors. In 1988, Michelle finished her studies and earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

How did Barack and Michelle meet?

After graduating from law college, Michelle joined the law firm of Sidley as an associate specializing in marketing and intellectual property. In the same year, Barack Obama also joined the law firm of Sidley as a summer intern. As amazing as it seems, Barack was assigned under Michelle’s supervision, which made her his mentor.

After working together for some time, both started developing feelings towards each other. Even though their affection towards each other was increasing, Michelle refused to date thinking it would hamper her work-life and the office environment. Eventually, she relented and accepted Barack.

After two years of dating Barack finally proposed to Michelle. The couple married at the Trinity United Church of Christ on October 3, 1992. Their relationship was full of trust and love and still is. Sometime after their marriage, Michelle gave birth to two charming daughters Malia Ann Obama the elder and Sasha Obama the younger. Michelle’s daughters are just 3 years apart.

Balancing her Worklife

After working for some time at the law firm of Sidley, in 1991, Michelle left the job to pursue a career in public service. She went on and became an assistant for Mayor Richard Daley and later worked as an assistant commissioner of planning and development for the City of Chicago. At this point, she had already set a goal in her life to help and improve the situation of society and children’s health.

In 1993, Michelle founded the Chicago office of Public Allies. She was the executive director and was involved in a non-profit leadership program. Most of her programs were focused on helping young adults to sharpen their skills for their future careers.

In 1996, Michelle became the associate dean of student services at the University of Chicago. Her actions were very notable since she developed the school’s first community service program and helped in organizing the school’s community programs. Considering her efforts, in 2002, she was appointed as executive director for the University of Chicago of community and external affairs. This is how Michelle Obama became a real Chicago legend.

How Barack Obama as a president affected her life

In 2004, Barack Obama was elected for the U.S. Senate from Illinois and Michelle was assigned as vice president for community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center. She worked there part-time as she decided to devote herself to campaigning Obama.

In 2007 while Barack was busy with the Demographic presidential nomination, Michelle reduced her working by 80% to solve the campaign obligations. When both were occupied with their work, they would often leave their daughters at Michelle Obama’s mother’s home. Finally, on November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the U.S. and took the office on January 20, 2009, which made Michelle Obama the first lady of the U.S. In addition she also owned the title of the first-ever African-American first lady.

Michelle Obama as the First lady

Overall, Michelle Obama’s performance as a First lady went very well. Particularly, Michelle’s programs were focused on reducing childhood obesity and supporting military families. Michelle is widely known for building a garden in the White house. In 2009, she planted an 1100 square foot vegetable garden in the lawn of White House with the help of the local elementary school.

Michelle started a “Let’s Move” program in an effort to decrease childhood obesity. Her efforts were recorded in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010. It helped set the new nutritional standard for the first time in school food. Michelle also joined forces to expand educational and employment options and how they should support military families.

During Barack’s second term as the U.S president, she helped to inspire young adults to seek higher education and how they can develop their careers. At some point, she also made public appearances giving talks and advice across the country.

She assisted students all over the country by helping them to complete their past high school, professional training, or university. Michelle raised awareness about the importance of education and a healthy lifestyle through social media.

Post First lady

After Barack Obama’s term ended as president in 2017, Michelle kept a low profile. This was because she was working on an autobiography “Becoming” which was published in November 2018. Michelle Obama’s book “Becoming” was about her own life story and her journey.

Besides that, Michelle is always involved in doing supportive programs. She was also involved in Global Girls Alliance. They give adolescent girls opportunities to finish high school.

Even till date, she actively supports the Chicago-based Obama Foundation Charity.

Michelle Obama: A Fashion icon

Michelle Obama’s family was in the public spotlight after the election of Barack Obama. So they had to have a sense of fashion as they were well known around the globe. Michelle was featured in magazines like Essence magazine’s “25 of the world’s most Inspiring Women”, 02138 magazine’s “The Harvard 100”. Her fashion sense was fit for her paparazzi.

She has also made her appearances on Vogue, the Vanity Fair and People magazine. She was on the best dress list for two years in Vanity Fair and People magazine. During their time in the white house, Michelle and her daughters wore dresses from Thom Browne, J. Crew and Kate Spade. She was also praised for her dresses in events.