This is historical material “frozen in time”. The website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work.

Search form

First Lady Delivers Commencement Addresses at Bowie State, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School

Summary: 
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers the commencement addresses at Bowie State University and Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School.
First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the Bowie State University commencement

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the Bowie State University commencement at the Comcast Center in College Park, Md., May 17, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

On Friday, First Lady Michelle Obama delivered the commencement address to the Bowie State University Class of 2013. Bowie State, which opened just two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, "was founded not just to educate African Americans, but to teach them how to educate others,” the First Lady explained. 

And since then, generations of students from all backgrounds have come to this school to be challenged, inspired and empowered. And they have gone on to become leaders here in Maryland and across this country, running businesses, educating young people, leading the high-tech industries that will power our economy for decades to come. 

That is the story of Bowie State University, the commitment to educating our next generation and building ladders of opportunity for anyone willing to work for it. All of you are now part of that story. And with that tremendous privilege comes an important set of responsibilities -- responsibilities that you inherit the moment you leave this stadium with that diploma in your hand. 

Read her full remarks here.

On Saturday, she traveled to Nashville to speak to the graduating class of Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High School. The First Lady took the opportunity to talk to the students – all of whom are going on to higher education or the military – about some of the skills they’ll need as they make their way through college and through life: resilience, grit, and the ability to pick themselves up when they fall.

And here’s the thing, graduates:  These qualities are not ones that you’re born with.  They’re not like the color of your eyes or your height.  They’re not qualities that are beyond your control.  Instead, you can dictate whether you’ll have grit.  You decide how hard you’ll work.  So I want you to make those choices right now, today, if you haven’t already done so.  Make those choices.  I want you to tell yourself that no matter what challenges you face, that you will commit yourself to achieving your goals, no matter where life takes you.

But, she said, “do not waste a minute living someone else’s dream.”  

Each of us has unique gifts. But it takes a lot of work, a lot of real work to discover what brings you joy. It just doesn’t happen; it requires you spending some time. And you won’t find what you love simply by checking boxes or padding your GPA. You won’t figure it out only by listening to your guidance counselor, or your friends, or even your parents. You can only find your passion by looking inside yourself. And that’s hard work. 

Watch her remarks below, or read them here.