Today, I was in the same room as Michelle Obama.
Sure, so were more than 2,000 other people, but even being one-of-many in the crowd at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre felt special.
The former first lady, who is in town for two presentations hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade in partnership with We For She, spent an hour talking about her time in the White House, her family, mentorship and education to a crowd that was certainly dominated by women.
One person sitting near me immediately said “Wow, that was too short. She had so many great things to say” when the lights came up. Another told me that the presentation was very polished, which detracted somewhat from the authenticity of her delivery.
Maybe all of the above is true. Clearly, the former first lady is a well-practiced public speaker. And very clearly, her presentation was geared towards an audience made mostly of business professionals, plus at least 350 youth. Personally, I found Obama's talk was great. But I'm also not sure I left feeling completely blown away. Even so, I still had a few take-aways.
1. I’m incredibly fortunate
The simple fact that I was able to attend this event is incredible. There’s inherent privilege behind the fact that I was a member of that audience and I certainly don’t take that lightly.
Furthermore, throughout her presentation, Obama continually returned to the importance of education. High school education is not enough anymore, she said. Thinking critically, learning how to have constructive debates with others and even following through on responsibilities are all tools that I had the privilege of developing in university.
The former first lady also discussed the value of mentors and just how critical they can be in helping young people feel confident and develop into leaders. Growing up, I had magnificent mentors. From teachers, to youth leaders, to family members to older friends – I was provided with so much support and I know these people had such an important impact on my life.
All of these things can be easy to take for granted. But it’s important to remember how we got to where we are, in order to know just how far we can go.
“You have to believe in the power of your own story,” Obama said. “Jump in and mess up. Then you learn from those mess ups.”
2. It’s not all doom and gloom
I work in the news business. I get that the media cycle can often feel heavy, negative and dark. But when asked how to face the divisiveness the world seems to be handling, Obama simply said, “it’s not as bad as it feels.”
“Most of the time, people are gathering and getting along,” she said, pointing out that people go to work and gather without incident every day. When there’s violence on the news cycle and harsh words shared on social media, it can be easy to feel like that’s the norm.
But there’s also kindness, collaboration and community out there.
“We just have to remember the truth of who we are,” Obama said. “Don’t despair, don’t get bogged down by negativity.”
3. “Saving the world” is about hard work and small steps
After work, chores, family, paying the bills, going to school, walking the dog, planning meals and remembering to rest, we still also want to make a lasting impact. The question is, how?
“Be patient with yourself,” Obama said. “Saving the world can start small.”
She then pointed out that we can start within our own families. Maybe it’s about raising a child to be kind and curious. Perhaps it’s about being a mentor to a younger cousin. The point is, we can first change the “world” within our homes and families before reaching further.
Above all, the central themes of Obama’s message were universal as they focused on kindness, empowering others and working hard. That, and to never post your first, unfiltered thoughts on Twitter.
