How Michelle Obama Just Inspired Girls Everywhere

On Tuesday, the First Lady of the United States empowered us all with her speech at the Apollo Theater.  Addressing issues about feminism, dating, and education, Michelle Obama served us some much-needed end of the week inspo.  Here are five of the most important quotes from Tuesday’s speech: 

1. Michelle on self-worth and dating:

“There is no boy at this age that is cute enough or interesting enough to stop you from getting your education.” “If I had worried about who liked me and who thought I was cute when I was your age, I wouldn’t be married to the president of the United States.”

2. Michelle on education:

“If we want to end global poverty, if we want to improve the plight of our country, educating girls is the key to all of that. It just is.”

3. Michelle on overcoming life’s small obstacles:

“You don’t want to look back when you’re 60 and regret that you just didn’t have the patience to push through these four years of mess.”

4. Michelle on independence:

“You’ll have opportunity, and you’ll have control of your life to make choices. And you won’t have to listen to your parents, because you’ll have a job and you’ll pay your own bills. You want that freedom. Freedom comes later.” 

5. Michelle on breaking past gender stereotypes:

“Compete with the boys. Beat the boys”

Disclaimer: All quotes were taken from The Seattle Times and theroot.com.

• first lady
• michelle obama