You prepare to continue your journey on the clamorous highways of life.. Thank you so much. (Applause.) ), I want to recognize Major General Williams; Congresswoman Sewell; Zachary; Kalauna; to all of the trustees, the faculty, the staff here at Tuskegee University. Michelle Obama Speech at Spelman's 2011 Commencement part 2/2 Press Release First Lady Michelle Obama To Deliver Commencement Address To The Spelman College Class Of 2011 Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad to receive Honorary Degrees Teach For America CEO Wendy Kopp to receive National Community Service Award Become a freelancer and work on your own terms. I love you all. And I think this was the perfect place to be, because this is my last chance to share my love and admiration, and hopefully a little bit of wisdom with a graduating class. Thank you. I love you all. SOAPStone Speaker: Michelle Obama Occasion: City College . Ive seen you gathering donations for those in need during this pandemic. I believe in you all. It can make you feel like your life somehow doesnt matter -- that youre like the invisible man that Tuskegee grad Ralph Ellison wrote about all those years ago. This is a time in your life when it feels like everything is turned upside down and perhaps youre wishing that things could just go back to the way they were. Let me start, of course, by thanking President Coico for that wonderful introduction, for her leadership here at City College, for this honorary degree. And I know, as President Krislov understands, that electing the right folks mattersit matters a lot. 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. Yeah, this is your day. Public education is our greatest pathway to opportunity in America. You all have worked so hard and come so far to reach this milestone, so I know this is a big day for all of you and your families, and for everyone at this school who supported you on this journey. And he knew that he was taking to the skies for them -- to give them and their children something more to hope for, something to aspire to. It deadens your spirit and it hardens your heart may seem like a winning strategy in the short run. That is your story, graduates, and that is the story of your families. Their legacy is very much your legacy and your inheritance. (Applause.) Next, Ive always felt a deep sense of obligation to make the biggest impact possible with this incredible platform. Michelle Obama delivered her final commencement address as first lady on Friday to thousands graduating from the City College of New York in Harlem. Read the full transcript of her video message here. Beyonc Commencement Speech | Dear Class Of 2020 Beyonc 25.6M subscribers Subscribe 90K 1.2M views 2 years ago Dear Class of 2020 is a virtual commencement celebration bringing together. ), And finally, while peaceful protest can be powerful, if we truly want to reform our criminal justice system, then we need to come together and do the hard work of changing our laws and policies to reflect our values. See, he never wanted me to miss a registration deadline because his check was late. Michelle Obama gave her final remarks as First Lady on Friday, choking up as she urged young Americans to remain hopeful and engaged in the country's future. They wont know how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed to make it to this day -- the countless hours you spent studying to get this diploma, the multiple jobs you worked to pay for school, the times you had to drive home and take care of your grandma, the evenings you gave up to volunteer at a food bank or organize a campus fundraiser. Not when women still make less than men for the same work. Transcript of Michelle Obama's commencement address Chicago Tribune Jun 10, 2015 at 9:37 pm MRS. OBAMA: Wow! Thank you. I am so proud of you. MRS. OBAMA: Oh, I. (Applause.) Below, watch and read the 44th president's full inspiring message and speech closing out the "Graduate . (Applause.) This is a transcript of Michelle Obama's Commencement Address at King College Prep High School from 2015. That is what so many of our heroes of history have done. June 3, 2016, 7:00 PM. Youll experience illnesses and losses, crises and setbacks that will come out of nowhere and knock you off your feet. They tell us to be afraid of those who are different, to be suspicious of those with whom we disagree. And I want you to consider this as a public service announcement for anyone who hasnt bought the flowers or the cards or the gifts yet -- all right? Meet the change Inside Takes on the Latest Stories . They are smart enough to see through that noise, and they are so hungry for voices that rise above itsmart, compassionate, thoughtful voices like yours. The Best Speech-to-Text Solution for Your Business Learn how Rev fits into your businesses workflow. But I also worked to ensure that my efforts would resonate with kids and families -- and that meant doing things in a creative and unconventional way. What inspires you? Shake things up. Michelle Obama calls for sticking to the personal individuality. Michelle Obama: (06:00) Former First Lady Michelle Obama gave a commencement address online to the graduating class of 2020. And even here at Oberlin, most of the time youre probably surrounded by folks who share your beliefs. So graduates, it is your time now and look, our democracy isnt perfect. "Over the past couple of months, our foundation has been shaken," And its the story of my family, too. And while neither of my parents went past high school, let me tell you, they saved up every penny that my dad earned at his city job because they were determined to send me to college. Because we both know that you cannot fully achieve your goals of service and social justice if you turn away from politics and public policy. Michelle Obama: (07:10) 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. MRS. OBAMA: Thank you all. If were only willing to do whats easiest, weve got to make hard choices and sacrifices in our own lives. (Applause.) And I'm so glad to be here. (Applause.) So, yeah, I planted a garden, and hula-hooped on the White House Lawn with kids. Lets let our graduates rest themselves. And I have seen how places that stifle the voices and dismiss the potential of their citizens are diminished; how they are less vital, less hopeful, less free. You are the living, breathing proof that the American Dream endures in our time. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. Today, I want to urge you to actively seek out the most contentious, polarized, gridlocked places you can find. A RESTful API to access Revs workforce of fast, high quality transcriptionists and captioners. Let me just take it in. Well done. Its your story and the story of those who came before you at this school. On Saturday evening, May 16, Barack Obama delivered a commencement address to the high school Class of 2020, whose graduations were cancelled due to coronavirus. Its okay if you dont understand exactly what youre feeling, were all sorting through this in real time. Michelle Obama: ( 00:07) Hey everybody. Look at you! MRS. OBAMA: Well, thank you. I could go on. And believe me, I understand that kind of pressure. It will be stressful and frustrating, and youll probably have to make some painful compromises along the way. Youre here! First lady Michelle Obama delivers. And my dad was so proud to pay that tuition bill on time each month, even taking out loans when he fell short. You rob yourself of the things that matter most. I cant wait to see what you all achieve in the years ahead. 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. He became a high school English teacher and a college lecturer. 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. And you deserve every last one of the successes that I know you will have. See, this is my very last commencement address as First Lady of the United States. Or was I too soft, too much of a mom, not enough of a career woman? They knew that our laws matter. Some of you have been homeless. I have so much faith in who you will be. They did it so that others could follow them and learn on this campus, too. First lady Michelle Obama gave the commencement address to the 2015 graduating class of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama, in which she talks about growing into her official role, criticism . Oberlin has separate application processes for the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory of Music. They had every material possession a college kid could want - cars, computers, spending money. Michelle Obama: (14:05) (Applause. So I immersed myself in the policy details. Ive seen you marching with peace and with purpose and that is why even in tough times like these, you continue to be what gives me hope. For those of you who feel invisible, please know that your story matters, your ideas matter, your experiences matter, your vision for what our world can and should be matters. See, graduates, this is what happens when you turn your attention outward and decide to brave the noise and engage yourself in the struggles of our time. ), 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. In fact, I think Dr. Martin Luther King described it well in his commencement address in 65 when he declared, Today you bid farewell to the safe security of the academic environment. And youve taken so many different paths to this moment. Sponsors. ), I also have to recognize the Concert Choir. (Applause.) I wanted to be here to celebrate all of you, this school, this city. But, graduates, let me tell you, you should never, ever be embarrassed by those struggles. It can feel isolating. You might be tempted to just recreate what you had here at Oberlinto find a community of like-minded folks and work with them on causes you care about, and just tune out all of the noise. So Im here today because Im proud of you all. Yes! God bless you, graduates. God bless. (Applause.) Over the years, Ive occasionally run into the noise myself. Thank you -- thank you so much for this warm welcome, this tremendous hospitality. And Im not going to lie to youfor many of you, this is going to be a pretty big transition. (Applause.) Deep and loving connections with others, honest work that leads to lasting contributions to your community. That pilot I mentioned earlier -- Charles DeBow -- he didnt rest on his laurels after making history. Just take the example of the great American lyricist, Ira Gershwin, who attended City College a century ago. (Applause. Search over 350 speeches by name,. It will be hard. Yeah! If youre living in a constant state of fear, how much farther behind will you be after months in quarantine and without a job. If you listen to them, then nothing will ever change. We always have been. (Applause.) Thank you. So throughout this journey, I have learned to block everything out and focus on my truth. (Applause.) 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. Let me just take it in. Theyre rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated and invisible. Thats my story. (Video . This is it. Oberlin is likely the only college in America that I could have attended nearly two centuries ago, and I am honored to be part of the extraordinary legacy of this great institution. (Applause.). Maybe they dont even want to see you at all, but those people dont know your story. Heres the thing, you have the opportunity to learn these valuable lessons faster than the generations before you. "If the world is going to get better, it's up to you," former president Barack Obama said in his address to graduating high school students on May 16. Lucretia Mott, Cesar Chavez, the folks at Stonewall, they were all angry, but those folks were also driven by compassion, by principle, by hope. (Applause.) It teaches us that when we pull ourselves out of those lowest emotional depths, and we channel our frustrations into studying and organizing and banding together -- then we can build ourselves and our communities up. So we need to invest in and strengthen our public universities today, and for generations to come. What Michelle Obama's commencement speech at the Santa Fe Indian School says about the importance of self-determination in education. But, graduates, today, I want to be very clear that those feelings are not an excuse to just throw up our hands and give up. You've worked hard for those seats! When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them boy and ticketed them for the most minor offenses. Despite . Youve got the knowledge and the skills honed here on this hallowed campus. (Applause.) A path, fortunately, more focused on meaning and service. Sojourner Truth was angry. Her moral leadership on behalf of children in this country has inspired me throughout my career, as well as my husband, the President of the United States. They don't know that part of you. But that is a heavy way to live. You may also be feeling some real anxiety about venturing out into the world beyond these walls. Graduates this is how you can finish the work that the generations before you have started, by staying open and hopeful, even in the tough times. Michelle Obama: (11:00) Thats it; that's the way we move forward. (Applause.) Okay, youre bright. (Applause.) Do you know when your primary elections are held? So what does that mean for your time? But unfortunately, graduates, despite the lessons of our history and the truth of your experience here at City College, some folks out there today seem to have a very different perspective. I would have given anything, anything to bring them back. These are the folks who pushed you and supported you. Translated on-screen subtitles for videos. And dont let anybody tell you differently. Not an excuse. The statements made by Michelle Obama are inspiring and appealing to a majority of the young . 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. He kept fulfilling his double duty long after he hung up his uniform. 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. That leads me to my second lesson, in an uncertain world time tested values like honesty and integrity, empathy and compassion. Michelle Obama's commencement speeches: a compendium of excerpts. Look at where were gathered today. Discover why Rev is the #1 speech-to-text service in the world. Just look at the story of Oberlin College. Think about how just 10 years ago, gay marriage was legal in just one state in this countryjust oneand today, it is legal in 37 states and Washington, D.C. Congratulations. 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. He did it because he ultimately wanted to help sharecroppers feed their families. Read his full commencement address here. Read the latest blog posts from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Check out the most popular infographics and videos, View the photo of the day and other galleries, Tune in to White House events and statements as they happen, See the lineup of artists and performers at the White House, Eisenhower Executive Office Building Tour. Spent hours practicing and performing. Read the full transcript of her speech here. Without mentioning the presumptive Republican presidential candidate by name, the first lady made one of the most . Her opponents declared that letting women vote was unnatural, would lead to child neglect and all kinds of social ills. God bless. (Applause.). And dont just ask yourselves these questions. And I know that these days, that can seem counterintuitive, because we live in such an instantaneous age. (Applause. Traitors to their cause? The vibrancy that comes from a diversity of ideas and perspectives, the chance to leave this world a little better than you found it. His commencement speech during the Graduation 2020 event was a call to action. You see, its wonderful to volunteer at your local homeless shelterplease do thatbut you also need to attend the city council meetings and make sure the zoning laws dont shut that shelter down. (Laughter and applause.) But in every election at every level, all of the time. Can Michelle Obama's speech offer, as an amendment to . And the truth is, those same questions would have been posed to any candidates spouse. And, graduates, climate change, economic inequality, human rights, criminal justice - these are the revolutions of your time. Michelle Obama's CCNY Commencement Speech - OUT LINE Prompt: How do Michelle Obama's rhetorical choices within her speech affect the overall message? How to Write a Graduation Speech Advice from a. 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. And let me tell you, you should feel so proud of making it to this day. Transcript: Read Michelle Obama's full speech from the 2016 DNC By Washington Post Staff July 26, 2016 at 11:06 a.m. EDT First lady Michelle Obama addressed the crowd on the opening day. (Applause.) It did not define me. (Applause.). Juggling multiple jobs to support your families and pay your tuition. (Applause.) Back in the late 1800s, the school needed a new dormitory, but there was no money to pay for it. (Applause.) And here at this nationally-ranked university, with a rigorous curriculum and renowned faculty, you rose to the challenge, distinguishing yourselves in your classes, winning countless honors and awards, and getting into top graduate schools across this country. Not here. Everybody has got to vote when the time comes, but the activism that leads up to that day comes in many forms. 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. But I also imagine that you might think about all that history, all those heroes who came before you -- you might also feel a little pressure, you know -- pressure to live up to the legacy of those who came before you; pressure to meet the expectations of others. It needed to be carried, not just by the housekeeper and the shift worker, but by the senator and the congresswoman and yes the President of the United States. 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