Girls everywhere thank you, Michelle Obama!
Over the last week or two there have been countless posts and tributes made out to Michelle Obama, to thank her for her time in the White House. The people have taken to social media to thank her personally. There is a trend at the moment on Facebook, “Thank you Michelle Obama”. Scrolling through the endless posts, you understand the true appreciation people have for her and her efforts as First Lady.
I find there are so many negative things that we tend to focus on about social media and the impact it has had on society. Although in some ways this is true, we must however recognize what good it can do. It is platform to connect people. It can also be used like in this example, to commemorate and give thanks, where thanks is needed.
Michelle Obama has been the First Lady of the United States for the past 8 years and during this time, she has done so many wonderful things to help the development of the country by starting and supporting projects. Her project “Let Girls Learn” focuses on young girls and the importance of their education. This initiative looks to give girls access to quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential. She stands as a mentor for young girls and she recognizes and encourages female leaders. She is a women’s woman. Women need role models like Michelle Obama as she believes in women’s power to affect the bigger picture.
She inspires women around the globe and sets their sights higher as she believes and understands the importance of education. Her passion for girls education is motivation for girls, all in its own. She also practices what she preaches. She herself, is one of the 3 First Ladies to have a degree from Harvard Law School.
When Barak Obama addressed Michelle Obama said in his farewell speech, he said “you took on a role you didn’t ask for, and you made it your own, with grace, grit, style and humour. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody and a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model.”
Women such as keen feminists Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Gloria Steinem as well as actress Rashida Jones, wrote thank-you letters to Michelle Obama, which were published to The New York Times online magazine. Enclosed in the letters are their stories of how she inspired them. They each reflect on how Michelle Obama, gracefully balanced her life in work, at home and as First Lady. Below I pulled out a single quote from each of the letters. These spoke to me the most in terms of how I felt about Michelle Obama.
“She made “first lady” mean a person warmly accessible, a person both normal and inspirational and a person many degrees of cool.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
“Michelle Obama may have changed history in the most powerful way — by example.” – Gloria Steinem
“If feminism’s goal is equal opportunity and choice, Michelle makes me feel like every choice is available.”– Rashida Jones
The media and social media has been an important tool, in order for the public to have been able to connect with her on a greater level. Through social media we have been able to get to know Michelle Obama directly. She says that by having had social media available to her “people can see that I’m kind of silly sometimes, that I care. They can feel the passion, [and] they don’t have to have it filtered through another source”.
She has been such a kickass First Lady and her legacy will live on as she continues to be an inspiration to women all around the world!
http://www.essence.com/2016/03/17/7-things-you-could-learn-about-social-media-michelle-obama
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/reasons-we-love-michelle-obama-birthday-first-lady_n_2475323.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/17/t-magazine/michelle-obama-chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-gloria-steinem-letter.html?_r=0
http://www.vagabomb.com/Thank-You-Michelle-Obama/?ep=VB
