Think about that brilliant scientist who made his lab from a trash pile. (Applause.) Michelle Obama Commencement Speech Transcript 2020, Congressional Testimony & Hearing Transcripts. Thank you so much. See, he never wanted me to miss a registration deadline because his check was late. Remarks by the First Lady of the United States. I cant wait to see what you all achieve in the years ahead. Resources and Support for College Students, Resources and Support for Conservatory Students, Oberlin Marks 2020 Commencement Weekend with Virtual Celebrations, College Announces 2019 Commencement Speaker and Honorary Degree Recipients, Main Library Will Be Named for Activist, Alumna Mary Church Terrell. The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. They answered your late-night phone calls even when you were just calling for money. More progress on LGBT rights than any time in our history. This is a transcript of Michelle Obama's Commencement Address at King College Prep High School from 2015. (Applause.) (Applause.) Look at you! ), I also want to take a moment on this Memorial Day to pay tribute to all of the brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that we could sit here today, at peace, with rights and freedoms that others around the world can only dream of. Fair use is permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Under Title 17 U.S.C. I understand he was such a talented young man, a promising aerospace engineer who was well on his way to achieving his dream of following in the footsteps of the Tuskegee Airmen. So what does that mean for your time? Somehow, you still managed to do prestigious internships and research fellowships, and join all kinds of clubs and activities. So I took on issues that were personal to me -- issues like helping families raise healthier kids, honoring the incredible military families Id met on the campaign trail, inspiring our young people to value their education and finish college. So on behalf of your students, I just want to show you all some love today, as well. (Applause.) Because I know that there is no better way to celebrate this great country than being here with you. Just think about what that must have been like for those young men. First of all, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here to celebrate the City College of New York Class of 2016! Epic increases in college financial aid. Generation after generation, students here have shown that same grit, that same resilience to soar past obstacles and outrages -- past the threat of countryside lynchings; past the humiliation of Jim Crow; past the turmoil of the Civil Rights era. As the annual blitz of commencement speeches get underway, CNN highlights some of the most memorable from years past. So while the Airmen selected for this program were actually highly educated -- many already had college degrees and pilots licenses -- they were presumed to be inferior. Debating each others ideas, pushing each other to question old assumptions and consider new perspectives. May 16, 2020 at 9:59 p.m. EDT. Just think about the folks who are winning those battles state by state, city by city to ensure that everyone in this country can marry the person they love. You made it! No, our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted -- folks who work hard for what they have then reach back and help others after them. And whether you played sports yourself, or sang in the choir, or played in the band, or joined a fraternity or sorority -- after today, all of you will take your spot in the long line of men and women who have come here and distinguished themselves and this university. Just the opposite, because what we finally do have is focus. When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them boy and ticketed them for the most minor offenses. (Applause.) Maybe they just arrived here recently, determined to give you a better life. (Applause.) Now, those Airmen could easily have let that experience clip their wings. I worked with Congress on legislation, gave speeches to CEOs, military generals and Hollywood executives. Try Rev and save time transcribing, captioning, and subtitling. I want to start by thanking President Krislov for that very kind introduction, as well as all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Oberlin. They didnt say its my way or the highway. Instead, they knew where they wanted to go, and they were strategic and pragmatic about getting there. Speeches & Remarks The White House Office of the First Lady For Immediate Release May 11, 2013 Remarks by the First Lady at Eastern Kentucky University Commencement Eastern Kentucky University Alumni Coliseum Richmond, Kentucky 8:21 P.M. EDT MRS. OBAMA: Thank you so much. You went to countless happy hours, and happy-happy hours at the Feve I hear(laughter)Im going to try one of those burgers for lunch today; thats all Im going to have(laughter)where of course, parents, thats where they studied some more. Instead, I think they knew that if they could just get everyone to take that first step, then folks would keep on moving in the right direction. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. Former President Barack Obama spoke Saturday at "Graduate Together: High School Class of 2020 Commencement," an event organized by XQ Institute, a think tank that works with schools, in. We need you to channel the magic of Tuskegee toward the challenges of today. Send any friend a . (Applause. First lady Michelle Obama addressed a crowd of graduates and their families at the 2015 commencement ceremony at Tuskegee University, in Alabama, describing her personal battle with . You all have come here from all across the country to study, to learn, maybe have a little fun along the way -- from freshman year in Adams or Younge Hall -- (applause) -- to those late night food runs to The Coop. Maybe it feels like youre supposed to go to law school -- but what you really want to do is to teach little kids. Not when millions of girls across the globe never set foot inside a school. And even here at Oberlin, most of the time youre probably surrounded by folks who share your beliefs. Well, the reality is a lot more complicated than that because for too many people in this country, no matter how hard they work, there are structural barriers working against them that just make the road longer and rockier. He kept fulfilling his double duty long after he hung up his uniform. But eventually, I realized that if I wanted to keep my sanity and not let others define me, there was only one thing I could do, and that was to have faith in Gods plan for me. Just look around. Today, I want to suggest that if you truly wish to carry on the Oberlin legacy of service and social justice, then you need to run to, and not away from, the noise. But that has only happened because folks like all of you left their comfort zones and made their voices heard. See, all of you know, for centuries, this city has been the gateway to America for so many striving, hope-filled immigrants -- folks who left behind everything they knew to seek out this land of opportunity that they dreamed of. Thank you for allowing me to share this final commencement with you. And youll be flying through the air, out of this world -- free. And I know that these little indignities are obviously nothing compared to what folks across the country are dealing with every single day -- those nagging worries that youre going to get stopped or pulled over for absolutely no reason; the fear that your job application will be overlooked because of the way your name sounds; the agony of sending your kids to schools that may no longer be separate, but are far from equal; the realization that no matter how far you rise in life, how hard you work to be a good person, a good parent, a good citizen -- for some folks, it will never be enough. (Applause.) Below, watch and read the 44th president's full inspiring message and speech closing out the "Graduate . Youre looking good! They sat down with leaders they disagreed with because they knew that if they wanted their vision to be made real, it needed to be made law. That is the power of our differences to make us smarter and more creative. Search over 350 speeches by name,. Michelle Obama: (08:23) Good evening. Michelle Obama: (14:05) And then they went on to become scientists, engineers, nurses and teachers in communities all across the country -- and continued to lift others up along the way. So if youre spending a lot of time, just hashtaging and posting right now thats useful, especially during a pandemic, but its only a beginning. (Applause. And sometimes its almost impossible to move upward at all, because if youre required to work during a pandemic, but dont have enough protective equipment or health insurance from your employer or paid sick leave, what is more essential, your work or your life. ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. Historic agreements to fight climate change. (Applause.) You may also be feeling some real anxiety about venturing out into the world beyond these walls. Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's D.N.C. But when anger is focused, when its channeled into something more, oh, that is the stuff that changes history. The educational theater student from right here in Harlem whos already an award-winning playwright and recently spoke at the White House. Public education is our greatest pathway to opportunity in America. MRS. OBAMA: Well, thank you. The two-hour event, "Show Me Your. I couldnt have said it better myself. (Laughter.) It never is, especially for folks like you and me. He said " this pandemic has fully finally torn back the curtain on the idea that so many of the folks in charge know what they're doing .". Not here. So throughout this journey, I have learned to block everything out and focus on my truth. Better yet, run for office yourself. Extend your content reach and maximize your engagement rates. (Applause.) First Lady Michelle Obama delivered one of her final commencement speeches to the Santa Fe Indian School Thursday. 1 Michelle Obama's memoir 'Becoming' sells 2 million copies in 15 days to become bestselling book of 2018, publisher says November 30, 2018 2 Michelle Obama says her brother is still their mother's favorite, shares her post-White House bucket list November 13, 2018 3 Michelle Obama answers self-care and parenting questions in candid Q&A He was a Hungarian immigrant whose harrowing escape from Nazism and communism shaped both his talent for business and his commitment to philanthropy. The great moments of our history are not decades in our past; theyre happening right now, today, in our lifetimes. Juggling multiple jobs to support your families and pay your tuition. We dont build up walls to keep people out because we know that our greatness has always depended on contributions from people who were born elsewhere but sought out this country and made it their home - from innovations like Google and eBay to inventions like the artificial heart, the telephone, even the blue jeans; to beloved patriotic songs like God Bless America, like national landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and, yes, the White House - both of which were designed by architects who were immigrants. ), And Im also a little giddy to be joined on stage by another one of my heroes, Marian Wright Edelman. Let me just take it in. This is it. Ive experienced a little bit of it myself. Not when women still make less than men for the same work. Maybe your family has been in this city for generations, or maybe, like my family, they came to this country centuries ago in chains. Thats just the way things are now. I was in my late 20s. And, graduates, its the story that I witness every single day when I wake up in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters - two beautiful, black young women - head off to school -- (applause) -- waving goodbye to their father, the President of the United States, the son of a man from Kenya who came here to American -- to America for the same reasons as many of you: To get an education and improve his prospects in life. Well, let me just tell you, it is beyond a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you today. (Applause.) Make sure the folks who represent you share your values and aspirations. Michelle Obama's speech came more than a year after the university's 260-piece band marched in the inaugural parade for her husband, the nation's first black president. This is Mrs . The biomedical science major who was born in Afghanistan and plans to be a doctor, a policy maker and an educator. And when they finally deployed overseas, white soldiers often wouldnt even return their salutes. And think about President Roosevelts struggle to pass the New Deal a few decades later. And while were reaching out, please lets give everyone whos working toward progress space to be themselves. No, of course not. Because in the end, they understood, as the political scientist Joseph Nye once said, that The absolutist may avoid the problem of dirty hands, but often at the cost of having no hands at all.. Think about the millions of folks who got out to vote on Election Day, waiting in the cold and rain in lines that stretched for hours, refusing to leave until they made their voices heard. And thats, as the President said, why Im here today. (Applause.) Because that President will ultimately choose the justices who decide those cases in the first place. It is an honor to be here with you to help celebrate this amazing milestone in your lives. She urged the 493 members of the school's first full graduating class to give back to their communities: During training, they were often assigned to menial tasks like housekeeping or landscaping. But I have traveled the world and seeing the governments and people in so many other countries. Because we know that our greatness comes when we appreciate each others strengths, when we learn from each other, when we lean on each other. First Lady Michelle Obama. Its folks all across the country who for too long have had the luxury and privilege of looking away. So he dug through trash piles and collected old bottles, and tea cups, and fruit jars to use in his first experiments. Because while weve come so far, the truth is that those age-old problems are stubborn and they havent fully gone away. And I decided to tackle them in the way that felt most authentic to me -- in a way that was both substantive and strategic, but also fun and, hopefully, inspiring. Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman? Now, did these compromises make these leaders sellouts? It was also Michelle Obama's first commencement address as First Lady. Thats just the way the process works. But these were my choices, my issues. (Applause.) Maybe your parents are expecting you to come back home after you graduate -- but youre feeling a pull to travel the world. It's a hard time, and everyone's feeling. That is how you will do your part to live up to the oath that you all will take here today - the oath taken by generations of graduates before you to make your city and your world greater, better, and more beautiful.. First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver the commencement address during the 170 th. I struggled to find the right words of wisdom for you today. That is not what this country stands for. (Applause.). But remember that one rule is keep mom happy. (Laughter.) (Applause.) They seem to view our diversity as a threat to be contained rather than as a resource to be tapped. So there will be times, just like for those Airmen, when you feel like folks look right past you, or they see just a fraction of who you really are. First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the class of 2015. So as you prepare for the next stage of what I know will be a remarkable journey, I'll leave you with a few quick pieces of . (Applause.) So please enjoy this moment. But out in the real world, there are plenty of people who think very differently than you do, and they hold their opinions just as passionately. So if any of you are scared or confused or angry or just plain overwhelmed by it all, if you feel youre searching for lifeline just to steady yourself, you are not alone. Let me just say a few thank yous. (Applause.). (Applause.) Are you sure? People screamed at her. Was I too loud, or too angry, or too emasculating? Michelle Obama: (02:44) Well, then how do you begin to chart your own course? They knew that our laws matter. I certainly hope so. Michelle Obama: (06:00) No, you dont get to be precious or cautious or cynical. Not just when my husband or somebody you like is on the ballot. But also by the rumbling of the age old fault lines that our country was built on the lines of race and power that are now once again. And I hope that youre excited to get started on that next chapter. "Over the past couple of months, our foundation has been shaken," I am proud to have this degree -- very proud. But in every election at every level, all of the time. Meet the change Inside Takes on the Latest Stories . What ideas are we missing? The tough part is nobody has all the answers. Well done! ), And all of that is going to be a heavy burden to carry. 1. So, graduates, thats what I want for all of you. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. 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