The Voice - Student Newspaper

Michelle Obama steps onto the world stage

Statuesque, brainy and personable Michelle Obama cuts an impressive figure. She is the first African-American woman to be First Lady. She has the potential to make her mark in history as no first lady ever has.

So far, however, this educated career woman's mark has been her fashion sense; she appears on the cover of Vogues' March issue. At one point there was concern that she was too outspoken. Some people still bristle when they remember her remark about finally being proud of her country. Pundits thought that may be the undoings of the Obama's, but they rose above it and marched on to the White House.

When they started the presidential campaign Michelle had her reservations until the campaign staff assured her with the description of the smart and civil strategies to win the nomination. Another aspect of the campaign that concerned her was to make sure she was not away from the children too much, her mother cared for the girls when she was gone.

If you ask Mrs. Obama to describe herself she will say that she is Mom- in- Chief. They took great care in deciding where her daughters Natasha 7, and Malia Ann 10, would go to school. They picked a private Quaker school, Sidwell Friends

Some of the projects she is most interested in are women's work issues. Her first official act as First Lady was to be present at the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Bill. Ledbetter's case became a national cause for pay equity. She also wants to help military family's get whatever support they need. She hosted a special concert, honoring families of the men and women of the American Armed Services in January; it was called the Kid's Inaugural: We are the Future.

Her life trajectory has been up and forward ever since her early beginnings in South Chicago. She was raised in a two parent middle class home. Her intellect was detected at an early age; by sixth grade she joined a gifted class at Bryn Mawr Elementary School. Her work ethic was apparent even in her teens; she commuted three hours a day, roundtrip, in order to attend Whitney Young High School, Chicago's first magnet high school. She graduated from Princeton University cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985. She obtained her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1988.She remembers being shocked at the students driving BMW's she did not even know any parents who drove BMW's.

She met her husband, the president to be, when they worked at the same law firm, she was assisigned to be his mentor. The relationship blossomed into marriage in 1992. She has held many high-powered positions in the last 16 years.

In January 2009 her life has ascended to the world stage, there is no telling what this woman's contributions are going to be, but the world waits with bated breath.

Please send comments to mcallan@gccvoice.com