Skip to Main Content

U.S. First Ladies: Michelle Obama

This guide will give you information about the First Ladies of the United States.

Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama

(1964- )

Michelle Obama

Profile

Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • U.S. First Lady (January 20, 2009 - January 20, 2017)
Date of Birth January 17, 1964
Place of Birth Chicago, IL
Education
  • Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
  • Harvard Law School
  • Princeton University
Parents
  • Marian S. Robinson
  • Fraser Robinson, III

Spouses

 Barack Obama
Number of Children Two

Biography

Michelle Obama was born in 1964 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Princeton University, graduating cum laude in 1985, and went on to earn a degree from Harvard Law School in 1988. 

Following her graduation from Harvard, she worked at a Chicago law firm, where she met her husband, future U.S. president Barack Obama. The couple married on October 3, 1992. As first lady, she focused her attention on current social issues, such as poverty, healthy living and education.

Quotes

“Every day, the people I meet inspire me, every day they make me proud, every day they remind me how blessed we are to live in the greatest nation on Earth. Serving as your first lady is an honor and a privilege.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“When I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“I have the privilege of working on the issues that I choose and the issues that I feel most passionate about.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“These are the moments that define us—not the day you get the promotion, not the day you win teacher of the year, but the times that force you to claw and scratch and fight just to get through the day; the moments when you get knocked down and you're wondering whether it's even worth it to get back up. Those are the times when you've got to ask yourself, who am I going to be?”
—Michelle Obama
 
“That's what's always made this country great—embracing the diversity of experience and opinion that surrounds us everywhere we go.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“The only difference between me and every other woman that I know is that my challenges are publicized, and I'm doing this juggling in front of cameras.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“We should always have three friends in our lives—one who walks ahead who we look up to and we follow; one who walks beside us, who is with us every step of our journeys; and then, one who we reach back for and we bring along after we've cleared the way.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“People told me, 'You can do it all. Just stay the course, get your education and you can raise a child, stay thin, be in shape, love your man, look good and raise healthy children.' That was a lie.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“Exercise is really important to me—it's therapeutic. So if I'm ever feeling tense or stressed or like I'm about to have a meltdown, I'll put on my iPod and head to the gym or out on a bike ride along Lake Michigan with the girls.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“It would be hard for me to edit myself and still be me.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“We learned about dignity and decency—that how hard you work matters more than how much you make ... that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.”
—Michelle Obama
 
“As women, we must stand up for ourselves. As women, we must stand up for reach other. As women, we must stand up for justice for all.”
—Michelle Obama

Books Located in the Library