The role of First Lady is not one to be taken lightly.
Eleanor Roosevelt used the position to fight for civil and women’s rights. Jackie Kennedy helped lead the country with poise and dignity. Hillary Clinton began directing policy while her husband was in office and went on to hold positions of her own.
When Barack Obama was inaugurated in 2009, the United States gained not only a new president, but a new and powerful First Lady as well. Since her husband took office, Michelle Obama has accomplished quite a lot, and has helped change the U.S. right alongside him.
Higher Education
As a Princeton University and Harvard Law School grad, Michelle has definitely challenged herself academically and finds education extremely important and beneficial for all Americans. She created the Reach Higher initiative, which encourages students to take their education beyond high school to professional school, community college or a traditional four-year college. Reach Higher provides resources like planning tools, financial aid help and more. This initiative works hand in hand with Barack’s “North Star” goal, hoping that by 2020 America will have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
Healthy Living
As a mother of two daughters, Michelle has encouraged healthy eating and living in America through a few initiatives. Upon their move into the White House, Michelle requested organic food for her family and their dinner guests. She also helped start a vegetable garden at the White House, working with local elementary school students. In 2012, she published the book American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Gardens Across America, which explored her experiences with the garden and promoting healthy eating.
Michelle helped found the Let’s Move initiative in 2010 to help families learn how to have a healthy lifestyle. The initiative aims to wipe out childhood obesity by making school lunches nutritious and providing parents with support and information regarding healthy eating and exercise.
Veterans
Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden came together in 2011 to create the Joining Forces campaign, which aims to support service members, veterans and their families. The campaign provides employment opportunities and education for service members and their children, and works to calm emotional, physical and financial stress. In addition, it helps generate support from communities for their service members and veterans.
Public Image
As First Lady, Michelle has spent a lot of time in the spotlight. Her sense of style and grace immediately caught the media’s attention, and has held on to it throughout her husband’s two terms. Though she has rocked her fair share of high-end brands, she still wears reasonably priced items from places like J. Crew, making her a role model and fashion icon for regular women across the country. Though she has received a lot of compliments for her “All-American” style, she has tried to take the focus away from her clothes and on to her other, and more worthy, causes.
Feature Photo via We Heart It