Even in a crowd of thousands, I felt like Michelle Obama was talking directly to me.
It’s honestly still hard to put words together to describe my experience at “Becoming: An Intimate Conversation with Michelle Obama.” Yet, I was able to muster up a few words to give you a taste of this impactful event.
The experience started with the audience watching clips of Michelle on “The Ellen Show,” singing karaoke with James Corden and dunking on Lebron James. We also watched a never-before-seen documentary about her early years and time in the White House featuring her mother, brother, children and former President Barack Obama.
The night commenced with a touching moment from girls and women standing under a spotlight while telling us who they are and who they’re becoming; leaders, queens, trailblazers and more.
Afterwards, our phenomenal moderator and “CBS This Morning” co-host Gayle King sat down with the former first lady to discuss her bestselling book, childhood, college career, professional life, motherhood and life in and out of the White House.
Although I’d love to give you ALL the details, I’m only going to share a few points that stuck out to me.
First, don’t listen to the noise. Michelle endured naysayers from an early age. Her high school counselor told her that she wasn’t Princeton material, yet she went on to graduate from Princeton and Harvard Law School.
She was also one of the most talked about and criticized first ladies. Her love of the country, character, gender, religion and more were questioned. The naysayers and their comments made Michelle question herself and her ability to be the first lady.
Instead of allowing people’s opinions to affect her, she decided to live by her family’s motto that also empowers many of us.
“When they go low, we go high.”
Secondly, you belong at the table. Michelle didn’t come from wealth but had an abundance of love and support. She has accomplished a lot but still experiences imposter syndrome.
Who else can relate?
Imposter syndrome tries to tell you that even though you have achievements, you still don’t belong and you only have success because of luck. The truth is that our voices and talents are needed, and we have everything it takes to be successful.
“I’ve been at probably every powerful table there is in the world,” Michelle said. “And I am coming down from the mountaintop to tell every young person that is poor, and working class, and that was told, regardless of the color of your skin, that you don’t belong: Don’t listen to them.”
Thirdly, we’re all on the journey of becoming. Every peak and valley should teach us how to improve and guide us upward.
Although Michelle has aquired numerous accolades, she reminded us that her story is still being written just like ours.
Our journey is something that we have to take pride in because it’s the very thing that will inspire and motivate those around us.
“Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own,” she said in “Becoming.”
Even a few weeks after the event, I still find myself asking the question posed throughout the book and live conversation.
Who am I becoming?
I AM BECOMING ME.
Caleb Britt 