Michelle Obama To High School Grads: ‘You Are More Than Ready’
EmailABC News’ Yunji de Nies reports: First Lady Michelle Obama told Washington Math Science Technical (WMST) High School’s graduating class that they are “more than ready” for the challenges ahead and to ignore “the doubters.” Mrs. Obama joked that she received many invitations to speak at commencements this year. “More than I did last year,” she said, adding that she choose WMST because she “wanted to celebrate the achievements of young people in my own home town.” She spoke about her own upbringing and her struggle to get to – and then through — the Ivy league amidst ”voices of people sowing doubts in my head.” She said that although she was always confident, “there was a part of me that started to believe the doubters.” Mrs. Obama also spoke about her husband’s choice for the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayer and her story of growing up in the Bronx and making it to Princeton. She said Sotomayer described walking on to the Princeton campus like “landing in an alien country.” “Judge Sotomayer says she still looks over her shoulder and wonders if she measures up,” Mrs. Obama said. “When I read her story, I understood how she feels.” Mrs. Obama talked about other figures who have overcome hardship, including her own husband. “This biracial kids with a funny name from Hawaii, of all places,” she laughed, “who was taught that anything is possible.” “At some point in all of these lives we all felt a little like you might feel right now, we all had doubts, we all have doubts and sometimes we still do,” she told the graduates. “But in the end, we are all ready.” “Judge Sotomayer is more than ready,” she said. “Barack Obama is certainly more than ready.” She said she herself was ready, and that “You are more than ready to assume the mantle of leadership. It’s time to step up, step up, it’s time, no excuses.” The commencement took place at Howard University, where Mrs. Obama delivered her second and final commencement address of the graduation season. In May, the first lady addressed the University of California, Merced’s class of 2009, after students conducted a letter-writing campaign inviting her to speak. In the case of WMST, it was a single letter sent by 19-year old Jasmine Williams, a graduating senior, that convinced the first lady to speak today. In that letter, Williams wrote, “Where we come from, being a young minority means that we have little chance to succeed..The world already has a pre-determined thought that our generation is full of criminals and concubines.” At today’s ceremony, Williams presented the first lady with a crystal vase, with an inscription that read: “We have seen the light in you, planting trees, feeding the hungry, hugging and loving children, walking Bo and standing with royalty. You are a beacon on the hill giving light to all the WMST class of 2009.” This afternoon, Mrs. Obama will host a lunch for former First Lady Nancy Reagan. Mrs. Reagan is visiting the Hill today for the unveiling of a statue honoring her husband. Yesterday she went to the White House, where President Barack Obama signed a bill creating the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commision, a panel which will plan events to mark the 100th anniversary of the former president’s birth.
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“Judge Sotomayer is more than ready,” she said. “Barack Obama is certainly more than ready.”
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That seems like a really important point to make at these kids’ high school graduation.
Posted by: MayBee | June 3, 2009, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Hmmmm…Guess she’s never been to a California high school graduation where the vast majority never make it beyond our FREE, for in state residents or children of illegal immigrants, Community College System………..
Posted by: Parallax View | June 3, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
“Guess she’s never been to a California high school graduation where the vast majority never make it beyond our FREE, for in state residents or children of illegal immigrants, Community College System”
While the enrollment fee at CA Community Colleges is the lowest in the country, community college is not free.
Why are right wingers arguing against people getting an education?
Posted by: Ryan C | June 3, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
“That seems like a really important point to make at these kids’ high school graduation.”
Both Obama and Sotomayor’s life stories are near Horatio Alger-esque.
What better way to reaffrim the American dream to young people than to point out two very relevant examples.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 3, 2009, 1:25 pm 1:25 pm
Parallax View:”Guess she’s never been to a California high school graduation where the vast majority never make it beyond our FREE, for in state residents or children of illegal immigrants, Community College System……”
Just for the record, was that a veiled attack on immigrants explicitly recognized in the Constitution as legal (native born)? While the SCHIP debate made it clear that many Republicans in Congress explicitly wanted to discriminate against legal immigrants (not just by right of native birth, but by placing restrictions on children of immigrants naturalized under the long legal process), this is an example of you personally deriding legal immigrant citizens.
Posted by: jhw539 | June 3, 2009, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
Schmoopie can upstage her old man.. even when she’s just doing a speech at a small gathering of students.. or hosting a luncheon.. she is good for America!
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 3, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
ryanc Directing the “right-wing” accusation to individuals of whom you do not have first hand knowledge is getting rather tiring and old to say the very least not too mention that it only demonstrates your intolerance of varied opinions other than your own…
“Why are right-wingers arguing against people getting an education?” is an infantile response to a statement made in reference to my statement in regards to our troubling Californian education system which ranks 40th in our 57 states errrr 50 states of high school graduates who go one to college…When I attended university orientation I was told to look to my left and then my right because those would not finish to graduation…I was one of the fortunate ones to degree…that meant only 33 1/3%
out of roughly 52% of H.S. grads who go would graduate..
So try to be more thoughtful in your responses because really your just wasting space…
Posted by: Parallax View | June 3, 2009, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
>>She said Sotomayer described walking on to the Princeton campus like “landing in an alien country.”<<
Walking through southern California is like "landing in an alien country."
Posted by: Ronnie Van Zant | June 3, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali I’m going back to Cali.. I don’t think so. I’m going back to Cali, Cali, Cali…
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 3, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
jhw…Your response is just one of many of the far left who, again, translate or spin if you will, statements of others into untruths of propaganda in order to serve their own agenda..I really can’t tell the right-wing extremists from the left leaning extremist is toda, seems to me they are both pretty much the same…
Posted by: Parallax View | June 3, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
Seems like she used the graduation speech as a political platform to further her husbands appointment of the “wise latina”
Posted by: calabrese | June 3, 2009, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
“I really can’t tell the right-wing extremists from the left leaning extremist is today”
ROFLMAO!
Rush’s biggest defender gets all cranky for being called out as a right winger.
Posted by: Ryan C | June 3, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Rush Who????
Posted by: Parallax View | June 3, 2009, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm
I am glad to see the First Lady speak to young people, to whom she is a role model. I thnk this is an important part of what the First Lady can and should do to be a positive influence.
Her comments about her own life and that of Judge Sotomayor reminded me of another prominent public figure who is also a role model who goes out of his way to speak to young people at occasions like high school graduations: Clarence Thomas. Like Sotomayor, he has a compelling life story of rising above poverty and of overcoming great obstacles. Justice Thomas also spoke at a high school graduation this week, in Maryland, after two students who met him on a plane flight invited him to do so.
Kudos to Mrs. Obama and Justice Thomas for reaching out to young people in this way.
Posted by: moderate | June 4, 2009, 7:47 am 7:47 am
Wait, why is she holding up a female attorney as an example?! I thought she had already made it clear to women that they weren’t to aspire to success…
“We left corporate America, which is a lot of what we’re asking young people to do,” she tells women. “Don’t go into corporate America. You know, become teachers. Work for the community. Be social workers. Be a nurse. Those are the careers that we need, and we’re encouraging our young people to do that.” This was in Feb ’08.
So, she’s either “changed her tune” or she privately despises Sotomayor for climbing above her station as a woman.
And it’s very easy to verify this speech, just search it.
Women should be teachers, nurses, social workers. Way to set us back about 50 years, Mrs O.
Posted by: Eyes Open | June 4, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
“Judge Sotomayer says she still looks over her shoulder and wonders if she measures up,” Mrs. Obama said. “When I read her story, I understood how she feels.”
I hope those High school grad are smart to understand the ‘ line ‘ that she is really trying to underline/sneak here, And rebuke it! America is not a racist nation; she got ahead..her husband got ahead. They need to let go of their anger.! and set the example here. ( their anger and recentment, these two really? have they been pushed around? or starved?…) its their ideology folks and the years of Mr. Wright and Co. Unltd. anger lessons. But no, it would be too good to be true; First African American President and preside with integrity – can’t be ….there will be, By God, revenge..!
Posted by: ariaeye | June 4, 2009, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
I am really sick of the america that thinks a strong black woman needs to be soft. In america if you are not a person of color than being strong is an asset but if you are of color then being strong is a problem. Grow up and see the forest, being strong is an asset for anyone. People of color don’t tell you how to speak so stop trying to tell us we are wrong in how we present our message to young children of color.
Posted by: Pricilla, Fontana CA. | June 4, 2009, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Pricilla, we have come a long way conquering the white and black differences; differences and issues from long ago and in other countries and cultures as well. I’m affraid some differences will remain just as those of poor vs rich, but that’s life. In the jungle it is the strong vs weak. Be glad of what we have achieved from say 100 yrs back. I love many black characters in many ways truly.
There was no place for the First Lady to sneak the race card, to this youngsters.
She is strong all right just for the wrong cause.,! socialism has taken many cultures nowhere fast and it absolutely doesn’t make any sense. – its like living from recycling – except the elite.
I wish the First African American President would have chosen to Preside with Integrity and Justice for all., not ‘ his idea of justice ‘ for all minorities; which is without doubt his agenda., Have a good day.
Posted by: ariaeye | June 5, 2009, 10:42 am 10:42 am
It amazes me how out of touch and misguided so many people are about the state of life in America. Just because we can point to solid examples of successful African-American people does not mean that racism does not exist in America. Speaking as an African-American woman, who has achieved many things and was present to hear the graduation speech, I believe Michelle Obama hit the mark and spoke in a way that those young adults needed to hear. Racism does exist in America! It is not easy growing up and achieving success as a minority in America, many people still judge based on the color of a persons skin, the way they dress or their accent. It would be ridiculous for Mrs. Obama to give a speech to a predominately minority graduating class in Washington, D.C. and pretend that this is not the case. That’s not intended to indicate that achievement is not possible and that race defines who you are, it is simply to give a clear view of the reality of living in this country. How many of you who have posted about socialism, racism, etc. have strolled through Southeast D.C. at dusk? Exactly! You haven’t, so please do not pretend to be knowledgeable about what it is like to be an African-American or what is needed to be told to young African-Americans who are about to spread their wings and try to reach for the American dream. The Obamas have been clear on their views about a fair America for ALL people, so please do not judge either of them on paying particular attention to a community or group of people who have been ignored by the ruling majority for so long.
Posted by: Reality Check | June 5, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm
Okay, if she had mentioned the issue with a positive outlook, sort of like what it is: …African Americans or minorities have lingering issues on discriminations that has yet to be worked out, but with we have come a long way….kind of an idea. And just set the precedent and say that we have been moving forward, hey look my husband is the President of US !! and look forward soon to see those days of discriminations as really….History! Even me would have applaude cheerfully.
It herks me to hear people feeling sorry for themselves. Demand symphaty or worse, encourage/incite anger. Many live off the subject actually, (Mr Jackson, Sharpton), not to mention Mr. Write, you know this is a fact. Just let go of the past. I have been snobbed by blacks, the rich, and the college graduates, so what., I don’t compain I know there are ‘ Those ‘ kinds of people in all cultures.
Why don’t the town of DC kick the major’s butt and jam the representative’s office entrance with pan and pots to demand all the bad streets to be clean up. Why would he/she be left in their post if they are not doing a good job.
If you would review the constitution and Bill of Rights you would see that is the Fairest-for all path for our Nation to continue to follow. Roosevelt, way back started to mess with it, – New Deal amendments – and who packed the courts then, most liberals. History repeats itself; We’ll have the courts pack again with Liberals..we are going to hell if we don’t stop them. Letting a selected few dictate what is to be is not the answer. Wake up!
Sorry, you can tell I don’t know much; I am immigrant, being Hispanic for 25 yrs or so I am ‘American’ first! I love this country. I hate to see it trashed by the new Administration. And yes, you guess it I don’t think Sotomayor deserves to be S Justice.
Posted by: ariaeye | June 6, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
“For the first time in my adult life I am proud to be an American”.
Posted by: Julie | July 3, 2009, 7:02 am 7:02 am