Hunter W Kjar

History 202

March 26, 2024

Michelle Obama stands as an emblem of resilience, grace, and empowerment, embodying

the aspirations and struggles of countless individuals striving for success amidst adversity.

Through her memoir "Becoming," she guides readers into the personal aspects of her life,

offering a profound insight into the challenges she confronted and the triumphs she achieved. As

a highly influential public figure, Michelle Obama has captivated the world with her unwavering

advocacy for social causes, her dedication to education, and her commitment to family. In

"Becoming," she shows many layers of her identity, recounting her journey from a modest

upbringing in Chicago to becoming the First Lady of the United States. Powerfully, Michelle

Obama not only shares her personal stories, but also connects them to broader themes of

resilience, race, and the pursuit of excellence all while charting her own unique path through life.

Through her candid storytelling, she illuminates the universal truths of human experience,

inspiring readers to confront their own obstacles with courage and determination. Through her

memoir "Becoming", Michelle Obama emerges as a beacon of hope and empowerment,

revealing virtues by overcoming socioeconomic challenges, racial discrimination, and the

delicate obstacle of balancing family and career.

Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming," provides insight into her journey, which was

riddled with, yet punctuated by the struggle against socioeconomic challenges. Raised in the

South Side of Chicago, Michelle navigated through the harsh realities of poverty and limited

opportunities in her early life made evident by ‘predawn’ bus fares, financial help from outside
sources, and peanut butter sandwiches in abundance. Growing up in a working-class family, she

experienced firsthand the challenges of making ends meet, often relying on government

assistance programs. However, rather than succumbing to the limitations imposed by her

circumstances, Michelle demonstrated an unwavering determination to excel. To show her

resilience, in her book she mentioned multiple times that if she were behind on any one topic, it

simply meant she needed to spend a few more hours working on it to surpass her peers. Despite

financial constraints, she recognized the transformative power of a college education as a

pathway to a better future. She had to face doubt from her peers and superiors head on when a

councilor shot down her enthusiasm and told her she, “…wasn’t Princeton material.” What was

Michelle’s response? “I wasn’t going to let one person’s opinion dislodge everything I thought I

knew about myself, instead I changed my method without changing my goal.” (Obama 66). Her

relentless pursuit of academic excellence led her to Princeton University on a financial package,

and later Harvard Law School, where she continued to shatter barriers and defied expectations of

peers and staff.

Through her memoir "Becoming," Michelle Obama emerges as a beacon of hope and

empowerment, revealing virtues especially by overcoming racial discrimination. Michelle's life

was unsurprisingly marked by the pervasive presence of racism and discrimination. During

school, she often felt she was a ‘social experiment’ only there because of affirmative action but,

she exhibited remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, drawing strength from her identity

and heritage. When she attended Princeton she said, “I’d never been part of a predominantly

white community before. I’d never stood out in a crowd or a classroom because of the color of

my skin. It was jarring and uncomfortable… like being dropped into a strange new terrarium, a

habitat that hadn’t been built for me.” Within the same paragraph she would demonstrate her
resilience by taking this negative and allowing it to drive her to work even harder for the

opportunities she was provided. “As with anything, you learn to adapt.” (Obama, 72). Michelle

refused to allow racism to define her! Later in life racism took the form of being overlooked for

opportunities or facing derogatory remarks while in the spotlight of the media. She details on a

story, while Barack was running for president, of harsh journalists that had cornered her and

focused all their questions on race and her experience as a black woman. In one of these said

interviews she was quoted saying “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of

my country.” This simple sentence was spun by the media to make her appear as a black woman

who hated her ‘racist’ country only until she was in the limelight. While this did hurt her

personally, this experience again showed her resilience as she let it fuel her commitment to

advocate for equality and social justice, recognizing the systemic injustices that continue today.

Once she was First Lady, Michelle utilized her platform to address issues of race and inequality,

emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in fostering a more inclusive society

all while confounding the misinformation of the media.

Michelle Obama's memoir, "Becoming," offers a candid portrayal of her arduous journey

to navigate the delicate balance between her career and her unwavering dedication to family.

Throughout the book, Michelle grapples with the inherent challenges of being a devoted wife,

mother, and professional simultaneously. As her career trajectory soared, particularly during her

time as First Lady, the demands of her role often collided with the needs of her family. She found

herself torn between the obligations of public service and the desire to create a stable and

nurturing environment for her daughters. However, Michelle Obama's resourcefulness allowed

her to effectively manage these conflicting responsibilities. One of the ways she did this was by

building a garden with her daughters at the Whitehouse. Michelle always kept up on scheduling
family dinners, carving out moments for intimate conversations, and even breaking down

barriers by surprising Barrack in the Oval office for his birthday. All of these demonstrate her

capability in balancing her priorities. Michelle demonstrated a steadfast commitment to

maintaining familial bonds amidst the pressures of her career. Her advocacy for work-life

balance not only resonates with working parents worldwide but also underscores the significance

of prioritizing family values in achieving personal and professional fulfillment.

Through her experiences, Michelle Obama exemplifies the virtue of determination,

resourcefulness, and most of all resilience. Her determined unwavering commitment to education

in her early years, astounding teachers, neighbors, and peers shows her resilience by her

withstanding socioeconomic pressures. Rather than succumbing to the racial limitations imposed

by her skin color, Michelle not only withstood discrimination, but resiliently allowed herself to

be fueled by it. In her words, life felt, “jarring and uncomfortable… like being dropped into a

strange new terrarium, a habitat that hadn’t been built for [her]. [But] as with anything, you learn

to adapt” (Obama, 72). In essence, Michelle Obama's ability to navigate the intricate terrain of

balancing family and career exemplifies her resilience and commitment to holistic well-being.

“The truth was, I intended to do everything—to work with work with purpose and parent with

care—same as I always had. The only difference now was that a lot of people were watching.”

(Obama, 329).

In conclusion, Michelle Obama's life story teaches the incredible lessons of resilience,

determination, and empathy. She serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the transformative

potential of perseverance in the face of adversity to young men and women of all races and

background. Through her memoir "Becoming," Michelle Obama emerges as a beacon of hope

and empowerment, revealing virtues by overcoming socioeconomic challenges, racial

discrimination, and the delicate obstacle of balancing family and career. Rather than succumbing

to the limitations imposed by her circumstances, Michelle demonstrated an unwavering

determination to excel. Once she was First Lady, Michelle utilized her platform to address issues

of race and inequality, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in fostering a

more inclusive society all while confounding the misinformation of the media. In essence,

Michelle Obama's ability to navigate the intricate terrain of balancing family and career

exemplifies her commitment to holistic well-being. Michelle Obama's legacy serves as a

testament to the enduring power of hope, resilience, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.

“… There’s grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for me, is how we become.”