Michelle Obama's biggest passion is pushing for education among girls. In honor of International Day of the Girl, which was observed on Tuesday, Oct. 11, the First Lady emphasized why girls should give education an importance, saying that this is the "ultimate confidence booster."
At a gathering in The Newseum in Washington, Michelle Obama talked about how she was once told that a public school student like her would not be able to do much in the world. But when she was able to study in Princeton and topped her class at that, she then saw how education boosted her confidence, the Washington Examiner reports.
"All throughout my life, there are people who have underestimated me," Michelle Obama told the girls who were in attendance at the event. "I always use that as a challenge."
The First Lady also shared that working hard in school contributed to her success. She didn't let the negativity discourage her.
Michelle Obama also wrote an op-ed piece for CNN mentioning how education has given her the "confidence to pursue my ambitions and have a voice in the world." She is indeed proof that education is power and so she's using this power to help girls who need it.
Imagine a world where girls got the education they deserved. Watch #WeWillRise on @CNN at 9PM ET. #LetGirlsLearn pic.twitter.com/2Z2Eb7Xfyf
— The First Lady (@FLOTUS) October 12, 2016
Michelle Obama spearheads the Let Girls Learn program that White House launched in 2015. It has since received pledges from countries like Britain, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Nordic region and South Korea to supports girls' education in over 50 countries around the world, Voice of America (VOA) reports.
During a recent visit to Liberia and Morocco, Michelle Obama saw how many girls have been deprived of education as they are forced to marry and have children instead. What their society has failed to notice is that these girls have other dreams.
"They want to attend college and become doctors, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs," the First Lady said, per VOA. She vows to continue working on Let Girls Learn knowing that there are many young women who could benefit from it.
