The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2013

Remarks by the First Lady to the Women's Leadership Forum Conference

Grand Hyatt Hotel
Washington, D.C.

2:14 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Well, this looks like a mighty fine group.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon!  Yay!  Oh, thank you so much.  It's wonderful to see you all.  Please, rest yourselves.  You've got a pretty good conference, I hear, a good lineup of speakers.  I heard the President was here last night, because he was late for dinner, or something like that.  (Laughter.)  But it is so good to be here.  It's a pleasure and a joy to be here with so many fabulous women leaders from all across this country.  And you guys look good for having been conferenced for a few days.  (Laughter.)

And speaking of fabulous women leaders, I want to start by thanking our DNC Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  (Applause.)  I know that we are so grateful for her outstanding leadership.  I know she's not here, but she has been amazing, and we are so grateful.  

And of course, I want to thank all of you.  I want to thank you for everything that you have done for Barack and for so many other leaders who share our values.  Thank you for being there for them year after year, for election after election. 

And I know it hasn’t always been easy.  I know there have been plenty of ups and downs over the years.  But if you have ever wondered whether your support makes a difference, if you’ve ever doubted for one minute that what you do and who we elect to serve in this government matters, then just think about what happened these past few weeks and that should put those doubts to rest.  

And I’m not just talking about the shutdown.  I am talking about the millions of Americans who will soon have quality, affordable health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act.  (Applause.) 

And I think it’s important for us to all remember who exactly is benefitting from this new law.  They are folks who come from all across the country, who come from all different backgrounds and walks of life.  They’re the spouses of our veterans –- folks who are working around the clock caring for their loved ones wounded in war, yet who don’t have insurance themselves. 

They’re young people who’ve aged out of their parents’ plan and can’t afford insurance on their own -- we may have a few of those in the room.  Amen.  (Laughter and applause.)  They’re folks with preexisting conditions –- women who had breast cancer years ago, folks who had asthma as a kid, people who’ve been turned away from insurance again and again.  The single mother who lost her job.  The couple who are both working jobs that don’t provide insurance.  The folks who are paying too much for their current plan and just need a better deal. 

So many of these people have been living from emergency to emergency.  They’ve been ignoring their symptoms and just praying that nothing goes wrong.  And now, finally, because of all of you, because you helped elect Barack Obama President, these people finally have some hope -- because of you.  (Applause.) 

So when a small group of folks in Congress shuts down our government to try to shut down Obamacare, and we watch as our President stands strong, that’s not just some political fight in Washington -- it is a battle about our most fundamental values and aspirations.  See, your President believes that here in America, no matter how you start out, if you’re willing to work for it, if you're willing to sacrifice for it, you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids.

That’s the American Dream that we all believe in.  And we don’t believe in handouts.  We don’t think anyone should get a free ride.  But we also understand that “there but for the grace of God go I.”  (Applause.)  What we understand is that in the blink of an eye, any of us could be faced with a terrible diagnosis, any of us could be injured in a horrible accident, any of us could lose the job we count on to support our family.

And when that happens, it shouldn’t mean falling off a cliff.  It shouldn’t mean having to go without food, or medicine, or a roof over our heads –- not here in America.  That’s not who we are.

Here in America, while we expect everyone to do their fair share, we also believe that we should give everyone a fair shot.  We believe that everyone should have the basic security they need to provide for their families and give their kids a decent chance in life.  That’s the kind of security that I and I know so many of you grew up with. 

You know my story.  My family wasn’t rich –- far from it.  And my father had multiple sclerosis, which is a serious chronic health condition, so we lived with the reality that at any given moment, my father could have had a flare up and needed medication, even hospitalization.  That’s how we grew up.  But we were lucky.  My father’s job at the city water plant provided health insurance, so my dad was able to stay healthy enough to get up every day and get to his job. 

So for my family, health insurance meant everything.  It gave my dad the pride and the dignity of being our provider and being able to pay his bills.  He was even able to pay the little tiny bit of my college tuition that wasn’t covered by student loans and grants.  And in turn, that allowed me to get my degree.  It allowed me to build my career and support a family of my own.

And every family in this country deserves that kind of security.  Every child in this country deserves that kind of opportunity.  And that’s why Barack has worked so hard to lift up the middle class.  That’s why he fought so hard and risked so much to pass the Affordable Care Act. 

And that’s why, time and again, he has stood strong for our most fundamental rights.  Whether that’s getting equal pay for women, or ending "don’t ask, don’t tell," or supporting our right to marry the person we love.  (Applause.)  And today, not even five years after Barack took office in the depths of an economic crisis, we’re now starting to see the results of his convictions and his hard work.  Our auto industry is back.  Our housing market is rebounding.  Our deficits are shrinking.  And our businesses have created 7.5 million new jobs under this President.  (Applause.)

But let’s be clear:  Barack hasn’t done anything of these things alone; hasn’t done any of this just sitting by himself in the Oval Office.  (Laughter.)  Remember the Recovery Act that helped rescue our economy and create all those jobs?  Well, we needed Congress to pass that bill.  Remember the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help women get equal pay for equal work?  Believe it or not, that bill was passed by Congress back in 2009.  (Applause.)  Yes.  (Applause.)

And of course, the Affordable Care Act -- yes, that’s right, Obamacare was passed by Congress in 2010.  (Applause.)  It was signed by my husband, it was upheld by the Supreme Court.  (Applause.)  And now, we are relying on governors across the country to help implement the law. 

So at the end of the day, so many of our most important accomplishments, so much of what Barack has done to help working families, that all happened because of who we had in Congress.  But let’s not forget that some of our most frustrating defeats happened for the exact same reason. 

The DREAM Act, an act that gives immigrant kids a fair shot, kids brought here by their parents through no fault of their own, this act failed twice -- once by just five votes in the Senate, and once by just four.  So the President had to sign an executive order to finally get these kids some relief. 

And remember that common-sense gun legislation that so many of us feel so strongly about?  (Applause.)  Well, unfortunately, that bill failed, and do you want to know by how many votes?  It failed by just six votes in the Senate -- just six.  So make no mistake about it:  Midterm elections matter.  Governors' races matter.  It matters who we elect to the state legislatures that draw those congressional districts. 

So if you’re not happy about what you’ve seen in Congress lately, if you don’t like seeing folks in state government trying to undermine Obamacare or chip away at women’s rights and women’s health, then I urge you -- let’s not just sit around feeling angry or helpless or hopeless, especially not women.  (Laughter.)  Because there is something that all of you can do right now today to make a huge difference:  You can write a check.  That’s what we need you to do right now.  We need you to write a big old check.  (Laughter.)  Write the biggest check you can possibly write. 

Take your frustration and your passion and your hope, and turn that into real meaningful support that will help us elect a Congress and governors and a state legislature that truly represents the people they serve.  And don’t wait another minute, because the stakes here are simply too high.  They couldn’t be higher.  So many people are counting on all of us to make our voices heard -- families who are working harder than ever, and they deserve to make a decent wage.  They're counting on us, because no one in this country should work 40 or 50 hours a week and still be stuck in poverty -- not in the United States of America, not in the richest country on Earth.  (Applause.)

Our children and grandchildren all across this country, they all deserve good schools, chance to go to college.  And they deserve common-sense gun safety laws to keep them safe in their classrooms and their communities.  (Applause.)  So those kids are counting on us.

And all the women and families who don't want anyone interfering with their most private health decisions, women who are more than capable of making our own choices about our bodies, they're counting on us.  They're counting on us to stand up and fight for rights and freedoms that we all deserve, and that's why we need your support right now.  (Applause.)  That's why we need you all.  That's why this is important.  (Applause.) 

And I know that some of you might occasionally feel a little annoyed that we’re always asking you for money.  (Laughter.)  I know it.  And it’s okay.  Own it, admit it.  It’s like, a check?  Another check?  I’m so sick of these people.  (Laughter.) 

But the thing is, we nag you and annoy you because writing those checks is the single-most impactful thing that you can do right now, because it’s not enough for us to have the most dedicated, hardworking, public-minded candidates if we don't have the resources they need to win elections.  Yes, it’s not enough.  (Applause.)

I wish it were, but it is not enough for us to have the best policies, the best ideas, if no one ever hears about them and we never get a chance to implement them.  So we can't just sit back on our moral high ground feeling good about ourselves.  We need to keep this ship moving forward.  I said ship.  (Laughter and applause.)

And that's why your support is so vitally important.  It is.  Because when you dig deep, you know what happens?  That translates into brilliant staff hired, more offices opened.  It translates into calls made, more doors knocked on, ads running where they need to run.  And these things don't happen by magic -- they only happen because of folks like you.

Now, I know it feels like we just did a big push for the 2012 presidential election, because I pushed, did a lot of the pushing.  (Laughter.)  And I know it can be hard to get geared up again for midterms, especially if there’s not a hot race in your state or your district.  But when you find yourself starting to tune out or get a little fatigued, I want you to think about some cold, hard numbers. 

The fact is that right now we are just 17 seats away from taking back the House -- yes, 17.  (Applause.)  But they are 17 hard seats.  And we’re just six seats away from losing the Senate.  And that's how close these midterm elections are.  And we all know that it’s not enough to elect Barack Obama if we don't give him a Congress that will help him keep moving this country forward.  We know that.  (Applause.) 

So we need you all to max out.  And just as important, once you’ve maxed out, we need you to go back to your states and get everyone you know to give whatever they can as well.

Now, as women, that's not always something that we’re comfortable with doing, asking for anything, right?  We don't like asking for help.  I know I don't.  Doing this is painful for me.  (Laughter.)  I love seeing you guys, hanging out, but it’s hard.  Sometimes we as women, we feel a little awkward, and we’re a little embarrassed to ask folks in our lives for money or for support.

But when you start feeling shy, do what I do: I want you to think about all those folks who are counting on us, all those kids, all those women, all those families -- families I meet and see every day who need someone on their side standing up for them.  And I want you to remember that other folks aren’t shy about doing this, and they are out-raising us right now as we speak. 

So now is not the time for us to be hesitant or doubtful or fatigued.  Now is the time to be energized.  Now is the time to be inspired.  Now is the time to tap into the deep well of passion and compassion and strength that we all have as women. 

And here’s the beautiful thing -- because I have seen it time and time again with all of you -- is that when we as women, when we do that, when we tap into that passion and that faith, when we keep stepping up and digging deep and bringing others together right along with us, then I know that we can keep on making the change we believe in.  I know that.  I know that we can keep moving this country forward, and together we are going to keep building a future worthy of all of our children.

So are you guys ready?  I know I’m always asking you.  We have to be ready again.  Are you all ready to step up one more time, one more time to make this happen?  (Applause.)  Dig deep.  Go back home.  Stay passionate.  Stay focused.  And we’ll make it happen. 

Thank you all, and God bless.  (Applause.)  I’m going to be coming down to shake some hands, so come on down and I’ll say hello.  (Applause.)

END
2:33 P.M. EDT

Lets Move! Active Schools Back To School Event

October 24, 2013 | 1:56 | Public Domain

The First Lady discuss the importance of the Lets Move! Active Schools initiative at a Back To School event at Orr Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

Download mp4 (148.5MB)

West Wing Week 10/18/13 or, "The Shutdown Edition: The End"

October 18, 2013 | 5:07 | Public Domain

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, the government shutdown came to an end, and the nation averted default. That's October 11th to October 17th or "The Shutdown Edition: The End"

Download mp4 (415.6MB)

West Wing Week: 10/11/13 or "The Shutdown Edition: Week Two"

October 10, 2013 | 4:11 | Public Domain

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. This week, the President continued to call for the House to reopen the government -- by passing a continuing resolution -- and avoid an economic shutdown, by raising the debt limit. That's October 4th to October 10th or "The Shutdown Edition: Week Two."

Download mp4

An Open Letter to Our Veterans and Their Families

Posted by Michelle Obama on September 30, 2013 at 01:01 PM EST

Ed. Note: This blog is cross posted from The Huffington Post.

Back when Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces, we said that one of our top priorities was the health and well-being of our veterans and their families -- and we said that not only as First and Second Ladies, but as mothers and wives. For us, there's nothing more important than knowing that our families are healthy and happy. And after spending so much time with military families and hearing your stories of service and sacrifice for our country, I know that that's your priority as well.

But while many veterans qualify for health coverage through VA programs, we know that today, there are 1.3 million uninsured veterans and nearly 1 million uninsured family members of veterans. As a result, right now, people who've already sacrificed so much for this country all over the world have to face yet another challenge here at home: dealing with the worry that one accident or illness could mean losing everything you have; enduring all those everyday stresses -- the pains you try to ignore, the symptoms you hope will just go away because you can't afford to see a doctor. 

That's just not right. But thankfully, because of the new health care law, you and millions of other Americans will soon have access to the quality, affordable health insurance you need. This new law means you can get preventive care -- things like flu shots, mammograms and vaccines for kids -- without additional costs or co-pays. It means you can't be denied coverage because you have a pre-existing condition like diabetes, cancer or asthma. And it means that young people can stay on their parents' insurance until they're 26 years old. 

And if you don't have insurance, there's now a simple way for you and your family to get all of these benefits, along with the coverage you need. 

If you are a veteran who is uninsured and hasn't applied for VA coverage, you may be eligible for care through the VA. To find out if you are, just go to VA.gov/healthbenefits, call 877-222-VETS, or visit your local VA facility in person. 

See more about Veterans  

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
September 24, 2013

Remarks by the First Lady at the United Nations General Assembly Spousal Luncheon

The Studio Museum in Harlem
New York, New York

12:23 P.M. EDT
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much.  Thank you all.  It's wonderful to see you all.  Please, please rest.  I am beyond thrilled to have you all here today.
 
I want to start by, of course, thanking Thelma, not just for her kind introduction, but for hosting us here today.  For a museum of this size, it's quite a heavy lift to bring in the spouses from countries all over the world.  So I am so grateful to Thelma and the entire staff here at the Studio Museum for making this visit possible, and for putting in so much work to make it such a wonderful success.
 
I also want to thank Marcus Samuelsson, who is the chef for today.  He and his staff from a restaurant located here in Harlem, Red Rooster -- one of my favorites -- they will be preparing a very delicious and culturally exciting lunch for us.  He couldn’t be here today, but in our gift -- the basket that I'm providing to each of you, there is a wonderful book of his recipes that he has signed for all of you, just to show his gratitude for all that you all do for this country and this world.  
 
I also want to recognize Mrs. Ban, who is here today.  She is one of my favorite people, and I'm just so grateful that you could be here today.  And I have to, of course, thank and recognize all of the wonderful young people and performers who are a part of today's event.  We are going to see some beautiful children from the Dance Theater of Harlem, who will perform for us.  And as Thelma mentioned, all of the talented students who have provided the music today from the La Guardia Arts High School -- we should give them a round of applause.  They did a wonderful job.  (Applause.)  So very talented.  It is such a pleasure to be able to showcase young talent, and to give them this kind of forum to show their hard work.
 
But we're going to also have a very special treat -- one of my dear friends, who is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning star, Audra McDonald, who is going to sing.  She has the voice of an angel, and she will be here to grace us with a performance, as well.
 
And finally, I truly want to thank all of you, our distinguished guests from across the globe.  It is such a pleasure to be able to welcome you all here to this great American city, but more importantly, to this great American neighborhood.
 
Now, there’s a reason why I wanted to bring you all to Harlem today, and that is because this community, as Thelma mentioned, is infused with a kind of energy and passion that is quintessentially American, but that has also touched so many people around the world.
 
As you may know, in the early 20th century, Harlem was the cultural heart of the black community in the United States.  And this neighborhood drew some of the greatest African American artists our country has ever known -- painters like Aaron Douglas.  Writers like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston.  Musicians like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington.
 
Many of these men and women left the South just a couple of generations after the end of slavery.  And they were desperate to find a place where they could explore their talents and express their ideas freely.  This moment in history came to be known as the Harlem Renaissance, and together, the artists who lived in this neighborhood sought to define and articulate the African American experience.
 
And their art was truly a revelation for the African American community.  Their paintings depicted black subjects.  Their novels and plays featured black protagonists.  Their music and dance brilliantly expressed the complexity of the black experience in America –- all of its struggles and triumphs, the tragedies and joys.
 
But the influence of these artists wasn’t just felt here in America.  Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong lit up stages throughout Europe.  Aaron Douglas’ art has been viewed by people across the globe.  And young people from so many nations have been inspired by the poetry of Langston Hughes, particularly his famous poet -- poem “Dreams,” with its timeless words:  “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” 
 
So in a way, this neighborhood is a thread that connects all of us here today, no matter where we’re from or what language we speak.  And I think the same can be said for the exhibit we’re surrounded by today –- these works of art by Robert Pruitt that you see on the wall which highlight the strength and dignity of women. 
 
While Mr. Pruitt is an American artist, I think that all of us as women can relate to the beauty and power of his work.  And I think that all of us can agree on the importance of the subject he chose to focus on -- in fact, I know that many of you have devoted  significant time and effort to improving the lives of women and girls in your countries.  Now, this is an issue that I also care deeply about, especially when it comes to education. 
 
Everywhere I go in the world, I meet so many wonderful young girls -- girls with so much promise, girls eager and desperate to learn, girls who just blossom when they get that one chance to go to school and to start scratching at the fulfillment of their potential.  And when they get that chance
-- when both boys and girls have an equal opportunity to learn
-- we all know that’s not just good for our children, it’s also good for their families and it's good for their countries as well. 
 
And that’s why, whenever I talk to young people, particularly here in the United States, I urge them to pour everything they have into their education -- everything.  I tell them that no matter what challenges they face, no matter what their schools looks like, no matter what’s going on in their homes, it us up to them to get to school every day.  It is up to them to pay attention in class.  It's up to them to do their homework every night.  
 
I remind them that it’s up to them to take responsibility for their education.  And I tell them that ultimately, their success in school won’t just shape their futures, it will also shape the future of their country. 
 
Because we all here know that when it comes to the pressing issues of our time –- whether it's climate change, or extremism from poverty to disease and global economic stability –- our young people will soon be leading the way.  They will soon be building the businesses, and making the scientific discoveries, and writing the laws that will move our world forward for decades to come. 
 
So we all need to keep pushing on their behalf.  And I hope that today will be an opportunity for all of us to share ideas for how we can all give our children the bright futures they deserve.
 
So I want you all to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity that we have together.  Don’t be shy.  Make sure that you talk to the ladies at your table about the great work that you’re doing in your countries, because you are all doing some wonderfully powerful work.  Ask others about what they’re doing in their countries. 
 
We all have so much to offer one another, and so much to learn, and so much support we can gain from each other.  And that is one of the reasons I so enjoy this time that I have with spouses from other nations.  It is truly a privilege to spend time with such great women who are struggling with some of the same struggles that I feel; who have the same hopes and dreams for not just their families, but for their countries.
 
And it is always an honor for me to spend time with you.  Many of you have become friends.  And I hope for those of you I'm just getting to meet, that we will develop that relationship as well. 
 
So please relax.  You are at home here.  It is my delight to share this wonderful museum with you, so enjoy.  And once again, I'm going to start -- stop talking so that you all can start talking and enjoy this wonderful meal and the performance that will follow.

Thank you all.  Have a safe journey back home.  And enjoy this moment together.  (Applause.)
 
END
12:33 P.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
September 20, 2013

Upcoming Guidance for First Lady Michelle Obama

On Monday, September 23rd, the First Lady will travel with the President to New York City for the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).  On Monday evening, the President and First Lady will host a UN General Assembly reception. 

On Tuesday, September 24th, the First Lady will attend the President’s remarks to the UN General Assembly. In the afternoon, she will host a special event for the spouses of Chiefs of State and Heads of Government participating in the UN General Assembly at The Studio Museum in Harlem, a leading institution devoted to artists of African descent.

Mrs. Obama will deliver brief remarks at the luncheon. These remarks will be covered by a pre-determined pool. For any additional questions, please email FirstLadyPress@who.eop.gov.

The Studio Museum in Harlem was founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, Harlem residents, civic leaders, and philanthropists. The Museum is an internationally recognized venue for modern and contemporary art and is a vital source of programs and services for the Harlem community. The Studio Museum’s permanent collection represents more than 450 artists, spans 200 years of history, and comprises nearly 2,000 works of art, including: paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs, videos, and mixed-media installations.

Performing at the lunch will be members of the chamber music class at LaGuardia Arts High School, students and Company members from Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Audra McDonald. These performances will be closed press.

  • LaGuardia Arts High School: LaGuardia Arts was the first school in the nation to provide a free, publicly funded program for students with unique talents in the arts. It was founded by New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1936 in order to provide a facility where the most gifted and talented public school students of New York City could pursue their talents in music, art, drama, and dance, while also completing a full academic program of instruction.
  • Dance Theatre of Harlem: Dance Theatre of Harlem is comprised of an international touring ballet company, school, and innovative arts education programs. The program reaches over 80,000 people each year with more than 65% of its students studying on scholarship or tuition assistance.  Approaching its 45th year, Dance Theatre of Harlem remains dedicated to inspiring traditional and new audiences with a message of self-reliance, artistic relevance and individual responsibility.
  • Audra McDonald: Audra McDonald is an acclaimed singer and actress with a record-tying five Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards.  Her theater credits include Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, among others. 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
September 20, 2013

Remarks by the First Lady at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Awards Ceremony

East Room

1:15 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  Thanks so much.  Good afternoon, everyone.  (Applause.)  Please rest.  (Laughter.) 

Welcome to the White House once again.  It is a pleasure and an honor to be here with all of you once again today as we honor this year’s National Design Award winners.  Now, let me just say off the cuff -- and my staff doesn’t like it when I talk off the cuff because they never know -- (laughter) -- the President is so jealous right now, because I always get to host this.  (Laughter.)  And every year, when I’m going over my briefing, he’s like, “You’re doing that again?”  (Laughter.)  He’s like, “Well, who’s there?”  Because really, deep down, he would have been an architect had he been as talented and creative as all of you.  (Laughter.)  So from the President to you, he loves you all, he loves your work, he loves everything about every ounce of who you are, and so it is a delight to have you here.  I always look forward to this event because it’s a chance to celebrate some of our country’s finest innovators and most creative minds. 

As the website of one of our honorees -- NewDealDesign -- declares, “We bring the unknown to life, delightfully.  Sparking life to dreams, crafting visions into reality, we move fast and act bravely to do good.”  And that’s a constant theme that runs through the lives and careers of all of today’s honorees.  These men and women aren’t simply designing beautiful buildings and parks and products, they’re also thinking about how they can work to help create more sustainable environments, more vibrant cities, and a more active and participatory society.  

Just listen to a sampling of the work that we honor today as an example:  a series of 18-minute talks that found a way to penetrate through the fog of today’s 140-character discourse; a giant, green, living sculpture in the middle of a Manhattan skyscraper; a museum that tells its stories not through a curator’s lecture, but through the memories and oral histories of more than 100,000 people from around the world.

So these designers aren’t just making a fleeting, momentary impact on our lives when we happen to glimpse their work.  Instead, they’re leaving a lasting impression on our hearts, in our minds, and in the way we see the world.  They’re inviting us to push our boundaries, to stretch our imaginations.  And they’re showing us that it’s okay to have a little fun, too.  And as Paula Scher put it, one of today’s winners -- she said, “You have to misbehave to make breakthroughs.”  (Laughter.)

And let me clarify, to all of the young people here -- (laughter) -- our future designers and inventors -- what Paula is talking about is taking risks, not breaking laws.  So let’s be clear.  (Laughter.)  But for our young people, I wanted to bring all of our young people here today to meet all of you amazing individuals in part because I think it’s important for all of our young people to see firsthand that in order to achieve your dreams, you’ve got to be willing to take some risks and to put yourself in a position where you might fail. 

That’s the story of anybody who’s ever been successful.  Take me, for example.  When I was in high school, I dreamed of going to a college that a lot of folks thought was a bit beyond my ability.  So they said I should set my sights lower.  But I ignored them and I applied anyway.  And guess what?  I got in. 

And then there’s my husband, a guy you know, Barack Obama.  (Laughter.)  He lost his first race for Congress, and he lost by a lot -- I mean a whole lot.  It wasn’t even close.  (Laughter.)  But he learned from that experience and went on to win a Senate seat four years later and a few other things.  (Laughter.) 

So I know that young people -- the young people here today are interested in careers in design.  And as today’s honorees will tell you, that means constantly taking risks.  It means constantly overcoming hurdles, brushing aside folks who tell you that your ideas are too ambitious or too unrealistic or too “out there.”  But if you can ignore the naysayers, if you can keep going back to the drawing board again and again and again, you too can come up with ideas that maybe even rival any of those of our -- that we’re honoring today. 

And that’s why I am so thankful for all of the work that Cooper-Hewitt does to help our young people see the possibilities in front of them.  For example, this morning, more than 300 budding designers from D.C. had a chance to get advice and feedback from some of today’s winners at the Teen Design Fair at the Smithsonian.  And I heard everything was as wonderful as always.  And I also want to applaud Cooper-Hewitt’s incredible DesignPrep Scholars program, which introduces New York high school students to college and career opportunities in design.

It’s through these kind of efforts, and so many others, that so many of you, our awardees, are reaching back and lifting up those who will build a better world for all of us in the years ahead.  And I believe that it’s those achievements, more than anything else, that are just as important probably, if not more important, than the achievements that you’re being honored for today. 

So congratulations to all of you.  Congratulations to our young people for being here.  Thank you for taking the time.  Thank you for wanting to even dream this big.  And that’s why being here, having you all here at the White House, is an important part of this day for me.  Because I want you to bask in the glow of this room and feel the power and the potential of what you can be just by sitting in these chairs, by walking through these doors; to know that this is the bar you set for yourself; you set your bar high.  You set your bar high and you don’t let anyone pull it down for you. 

So it is truly an honor to have all of you here at the White House to show our gratitude for the important contributions that you all make to our world.  So thank you all.  (Applause.)

And now it is my pleasure to introduce someone who is doing that kind of important work for our next generation every day at the Smithsonian.  Under his leadership, the Smithsonian Institution has used technology and educational programming to open up the museums, exhibitions and artifacts to more Americans than ever before, with a special focus on reaching out to our young people.

And that’s why I was a little sad to learn that this gentleman, who is standing by me, will be stepping down as Secretary of the Smithsonian.  But on the bright side, we will have him for at least one more year.  One more year. 

So ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a very warm welcome to our visionary leader, and someone I’m proud to call a friend, Dr. Wayne Clough.  (Applause.)

END               
1:22 P.M. EDT

White House Convening on Food Marketing to Children

September 18, 2013 | 23:20 | Public Domain

A key focus of the Let's Move! initiative is to make the healthy choice the easy choice for American families. Marketing and other sources of information can make it easier for families to make healthier choices, or act as a barrier to better choices. The White House Convening on Food Marketing to Children brings together a wide range of leaders working on this issue--from experts, advocates, and parents to food, beverage, media and entertainment companies to identify opportunities for action that ensure marketing supports the health of kids and families.

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Read the Transcript

Remarks by the First Lady During White House Convening on Food Marketing to Children

State Dining Room

1:13 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Thanks for being here.  You guys, as I always say, rest yourselves.  You got a lot of work to do.  (Laughter.)

Well, welcome to the White House.  It is truly a pleasure to be here with all of you today for the first ever White House Convening on Food Marketing to Children.

But before we get started, I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincere heartbreak over Monday’s tragedy at the Navy Yard here in Washington.  The men and women who lost their lives devoted their careers to protecting our country.  And as we mourn those that we lost and we pray for those who were injured, we also honor their service, and we hold all of their loved ones in our hearts at this very difficult time.

So with that, we’re going to put you to work.  Thank you again for being here.  I want to start by thanking Sam for that very kind introduction, but more importantly for all the work that he and his team have done to make Let's Move a reality.

And I want to thank all of you for joining us today.

All of you in this room, you come to this issue from all different angles.  You’re experts, advocates, parents.  You represent food and beverage companies, media and entertainment companies, and so much more.  And we’re eager to have a lively and constructive dialogue with you about how we market food to our children. 

We’re eager to hear more from everyone in this room about what’s working, where we’re falling short, and how we can keep moving forward together on this complex and challenging but very important issue.

And I think it’s important to note that we’re having this conversation in the midst of what I believe is a cultural shift that is happening in this country -- a transformation in how we live and eat that many of us could never have imagined even just a few years ago.  I see it everywhere I go all across this country.  I see it in chain restaurants that are serving kale salads, and they're filling kids’ menus with not just nuggets and fries, but with broccoli and whole-wheat pasta.  I see it in churches where instead of fried chicken and mac and cheese for church supper, they’re serving up grilled fish and brown rice.

I see it online where parenting, cooking, and health blogs are crammed with healthy recipes and tips about providing better nutrition for our kids.  And I see it in schools where students can’t wait to tell me about their new salad bar or how they ate a radish or tried cauliflower for the first time, and actually like it.

In fact, we recently sponsored a recipe contest for kids here at the White House, and we got over 1,300 entries from 50 states across the country, and I can’t tell you how many of those recipes featured quinoa.  (Laughter.)  Go figure.

And if all of this doesn’t provide sufficient evidence of an important shift, then just take a look at the market research.  The National Restaurant Association surveyed chefs about trends in their industry, and three of the top 10 trends were specifically about healthy kids’ meals.  A survey by the Food Marketing Institute found that 90 percent of grocery stores are offering healthy recipes to their customers, and 98 percent of them maintain health and wellness websites.

And today, for the first time in decades, we’re actually starting to move the needle on this issue.  Between 2008 and 2011, obesity rates among low-income preschoolers dropped in 19 states and territories across the country.  And childhood obesity rates are falling in cities like New York and Philadelphia, and in states like California and Mississippi.

But while we have made important progress, when one in three kids is still on track to develop diabetes, and when diet has now surpassed smoking as the number one risk factor for disease and death in this country, then we clearly have much more work to do.  And, yes, we have made meaningful changes in a number of areas by getting healthier food into our schools and communities, but at the end of the day, if we truly want to solve this problem, we also need to get our kids to actually want to eat these healthier options.  And I say this not just as a First Lady who’s been working on this issue for the past three and a half years; I say this as a mom who has been working hard to raise two girls. 

As you know, I haven’t always lived in the White House.  (Laughter.)  Not so long ago, I was a busy working mom desperate to find quick, affordable meals and snacks for my family.  I needed cereal that my girls could pour themselves.  I needed lunches I could pack in a hurry.  I needed juice boxes that my three-year-old could hold in her hand in the backseat of my car.  I needed dinners that came pre-cooked and ready to pop in the microwave.  And most importantly, I needed my kids to actually eat all of this food I was buying for them. 

And all of you in the food and beverage industry delivered for me.  You manufactured and sold the convenience foods I needed, and you did a brilliant job making those foods something my kids would want.  So when I opened those boxes and bags, my girls were happy, and I was happy -- problem solved.

But then, like a lot of moms, I started learning more about nutrition and health.  I started reading labels.  I started getting warnings from my pediatrician about the health of my

Kids.  And I began to realize that some of these foods that were so quick and cheap and tasty weren’t always healthy for my kids.

So once again, moms like me turned to your industry for help. But this time, we didn’t just want the foods to be convenient and affordable -- we wanted them to be good for our kids as well.  And once again, many of you have started to deliver by manufacturing some of the healthier options.  And that is an important first step.

But once again, moms like me are relying on all of you to actually help our kids get excited about eating that food.  And that’s why I wanted to bring all of you together today -- because you guys know better than anyone how to get kids excited.  You’ve done it before, and we need you to do it again.  And fortunately you have everything it takes to get this done because through the magic of marketing and advertising, all of you, more than anyone else, have the power to shape our kids’ tastes and desires. 

You all know that our kids are like little sponges –- they absorb whatever is around them.  But they don’t yet have the ability to question and analyze what they’re told.  Instead, they believe just about everything they see and hear, especially if it’s on TV.   And when the average child is now spending nearly eight hours a day in front of some kind of screen, many of their opinions and preferences are being shaped by the marketing campaigns you all create.  And that’s where the problem comes in.

You see, the average child watches thousands of food advertisements each year, and 86 percent of these ads are for products loaded with sugar, fat, salt.  By contrast, our kids see an average of just one ad a week for healthy products like water to fruits and vegetables.  Just one ad a week.

And as you all know, these ads work.  Kids who see foods advertised on TV are significantly more likely to ask for them at the store –- a phenomenon known as “pester power.” (Laughter.)  New to me.  Sounds right though.  And research shows that a child’s first request for a product happens as early as 24 months, and 75 percent of the time, this request takes place in a grocery store. 

And given what our kids are seeing on TV, it should come as no surprise what they’re asking for.  One study revealed that 45 percent of kids’ food requests were things like cookies and candy, burgers and fries, and chips, but just 3 percent were for fruits and vegetables.  So from the time our kids are still in diapers, we as parents are already fighting an uphill battle to

get them interested in the foods that will actually nourish them and help them grow. 

Now, like many parents, Barack and I do our best to limit our daughters’ TV time.  But as you all know, these ads aren’t just on TV.  They’re on the internet, in video games, smart phones, billboards.  They’re in schools and store displays.  They’re everywhere, and parents just can’t keep up, no matter how hard we try.  So whatever we all might believe about personal responsibility and self-determination, I think we

can agree that it doesn’t necessarily apply to children. 

I think that we can all agree that parents deserve more control over the products and messages their kids are exposed to.  And that’s why I was so pleased that 17 major American companies came together on their own as part of the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative to adopt new standards for marketing to kids. 

And I know this wasn’t easy.  Forging consensus among fierce competitors is a challenge to say the least.  But these new standards are beginning to have an impact, and I commend all of these companies for taking action. 

But of course, while limiting the marketing of unhealthy food is critical, it’s not enough.  We also need companies to actually market healthy foods to kids -– foods that have real

nutritional value, foods that are fortified with real fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.  Now, I say this mindful that companies exist to make a profit, and they need that in order to survive.  And those profits keep our economy going every day. 

But the fact is that marketing nutritious foods to our kids isn’t just good for our kids’ health -- it can also be good for companies’ bottom lines.  For example, the folks at Birds Eye Vegetables launched a major marketing campaign featuring characters from the popular kids’ show “iCarly.”  And their sales jumped 20 percent in just two months.  Vidalia Onion did a campaign with “Shrek” -- one of my favorites -- and their sales went up 50 percent.  So I’m confident that you all can sell healthy foods to our kids and remain competitive and profitable.

That’s why some of your companies’ marketers are playing a key role in a new campaign to inspire people in this country to drink more water.  You see, we know that water is such an important component to good health, but so many other beverages have millions of marketing dollars behind them that water often gets drowned out.  That’s why last week, we launched the new Drink Up campaign -- a campaign to bring attention to water as a healthy choice so that when people are thirsty, they reach for a glass of water.  So I say this because when it comes to believing in the power of marketing to promote healthy choices to our kids, I’m not just talking the talk, I’m actually walking the walk on this one.

But so far, I’ve spent a lot of time talking about food and beverage companies.  But those of you from media companies also play a critical role in marketing food to our children, and I want to call on all of you to do your part as well.  That means, for example, limiting the use of your licensed characters to market unhealthy food to kids, and limiting unhealthy food ads in your programming.

Disney has pledged to do just that, and I know that other media companies can follow suit.  But I’m also asking you to actually use your licensed characters to promote healthy food.  “Sesame Street” has been doing this for years, which is why, when parents turn on “Sesame Street” or the Disney Channel, they know and trust that their kids won’t be bombarded with messages promoting unhealthy food.

And that trust is valuable.  That trust is good for your businesses.  That’s why so many of you in the private sector are leading the way on this issue.  You are innovating.  You’re taking risks.  You’re serving as models for your industries, and it’s starting to make a difference -- not just for our kids, but for your shareholders as well.

And I’m here today with one simple request -- and that is to do even more and move even faster to market responsibly to our kids.  Now, I want to be clear about what I’m asking here.   I am not asking anyone to take the fun out of childhood.  As we all know, treats are one of the best parts of being a kid. Instead, the goal here is to empower parents instead of undermining them as they try to make healthier choices for their families.  And we need you to lead the way in creating demand for healthy foods so that kids actually start “pestering” us for those foods in the grocery store.  And then parents actually start buying them, and then companies have incentives to make and sell even more of those foods.

And ideally, in a decade or so, we would see a dramatic shift across the entire industry.  We’d see companies shifting marketing dollars away from those less healthy products and investing those dollars in your healthier products instead. That’s how we can make healthy eating a way of life for our kids and for our families.  And make no mistake about it, meeting these goals isn’t just the right decision for the short or medium term; it can affect your businesses for decades to come.

See, the decisions that you make about marketing won’t just affect what our kids are eating today -- those decisions are going to also affect the health of your workforce tomorrow. Businesses are losing $37 [$73] billion a year due to absenteeism, lost productivity, and health care costs associated with obesity-related conditions.  And just imagine what that number will look like in twenty years from now if we stand by and let today’s unhealthy kids grow into unhealthy adults who become the employees of tomorrow. 

And there’s another long-term factor that’s also worth considering, and that is the potential trend in our kids’ food preferences and taste.  You see, over the past few years, we’ve seen some real changes in the foods our kids are eating,

starting from the time they’re born.  For example, changes in the Women, Infants and Children Program are helping millions of women across America buy healthier products for their kids.  And 10,000 childcare centers across the country have committed to serving more nutritious food as part of Let’s Move Childcare.

In addition, we have implemented sweeping changes in America’s school lunch program, such that nearly 32 million children across the country are now eating more fruits, and vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy foods every day.  And starting next year, school vending machines will be stocked with healthy items as well. 

So healthier eating is starting to become the new norm for our kids.  This is what they’re getting used to, and for many, this is all they’ll ever know.  And as their palates and their habits adjust, that could have a serious effect on their taste and preferences not just as children, but for the rest of their lives.  It could even affect what they ultimately buy and serve their own children in the future.  So this isn’t just some passing trend or fad. 

So there might be those out there whose strategy is to just wait this out -- folks who might still be thinking to themselves, well, in a few years, this lady will be gone -- (laughter) -- and this whole Let’s Move thing will finally be over, so we can go back to business as usual.  And I know that none of you here are thinking that way.  (Laughter.)  But if you know anyone who is -- (laughter) -- you might want to remind them that I didn’t create this issue, and it’s not going to go away three and a half years from now when I’m no longer First Lady. 

This issue has truly taken on a life of its own because it is affecting just about every family and every community in this country.  Parents are increasingly anxious as they see their kids developing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure -- conditions that would have been unthinkable to find in children just a generation ago.  There are now 79 million pre-diabetics in this county, many of them young adults, and we’re

even seeing people in their twenties and thirties having heart attacks and strokes. 

So I have yet to meet a single parent who doesn’t understand the threat of obesity to their health and to their children’s health.  And they are looking for solutions.  They’re starting to think about how they feed themselves and their families.  And you all can take advantage of this.  You can get ahead of the curve.  You have everything it takes right now to seize this societal challenge as an unprecedented business opportunity.  Right now, your companies employ some of the most brilliant, creative, innovative minds in the entire country.  And you all can sell just about anything to our kids.  And if anyone can get our kids to eat their vegetables, it’s all of you. 

And I know it won’t be easy.  I know you might have to take some short-term risks to get a long-term payoff.  But that’s what great American companies do -- they act boldly, they innovate, they take risks.  And remember, it wasn’t that long ago that “going green” or taking your business online were considered risky endeavors.  But throughout our history, the companies that saw where the future was headed and took that leap have been rewarded. 

And I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to celebrate and highlight this kind of leadership on behalf of our kids.  That’s what I’ve been doing since I first started working on this issue, whether it was visiting a

Walmart stocked with fresh produce, or having dinner at an Olive Garden with a healthier kids menu, or hanging out with Mickey to celebrate Disney’s achievements on this issue.  And I am eager to have these kinds of celebrations with every company in this room.

So I hope that all of you will really engage.  I hope that you’ll really talk to each other, and learn from each other, and come up with new solutions that will make a real difference for our kids.  We want to hear from everyone involved in this issue -- from industry leaders to advocates to researchers and to parents -- because we’re all in this together.

And while I know I’ve been talking a lot about corporate America’s responsibilities on this issue, the advocates and experts here today have an important responsibility too.  Your words matter.  You all can help either provide incentives to change, or you can be barriers to change.  So we need you to be constructive in your criticisms and strategic in your calls to action, because when it comes to marketing, it can be hard for companies to take risks.  They face pressures from Wall Street.  There are also limits to how fast they can move and how far they can go before they start losing customers. 

So when companies do step up and take risks, we need to be supportive, even if we think they haven’t gone far enough.  We need to help them make those risks pay off, so that they’ll go even farther, and so that other companies will follow their lead. 

And as for those of you in the private sector, I hope that you will head back to your companies ready to think big and act boldly on behalf of our kids because while running a profitable business is important, I know that you all aren’t just business executives.  You all are also good neighbors, and good citizens, and proud parents and grandparents.  Many of you didn’t go into business just to make money, but to problem solve and make people’s lives better.  You went into business to create great American products and build great American institutions, and to leave a legacy that your kids and grandkids will inherit with pride. 

And in the end, that’s what Let’s Move is all about.  It’s about the legacy we’re leaving for the next generation and generations to come.  And standing here today with all of you, people who represent some of the most visionary, pioneering companies and organizations in this country, I have never felt more confident about our children’s future and, of course, the future of this country. 

So I look forward to hearing about what you all come up with today, and I look forward to celebrating new commitments and achievements in the months and years ahead.

Thank you all.  God bless you.  Good luck and work hard.  (Applause.)

END
1:36 P.M. EDT

Close Transcript

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
September 16, 2013

Remarks by the First Lady at the Música Latina Workshop

State Dining Room

10:56 A.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA:  Good morning, everyone.

AUDIENCE: Good morning. 

MRS. OBAMA:  And buenos dias.

AUDIENCE:  Buenos dias.

MRS. OBAMA:  That’s about all I got.  (Laughter.)  You guys, sit, rest.  It's good to have you here.  How is everybody doing?  Did you get in easily?  Nobody got too wet?  It's exciting.  You're in the White House!  How does it feel?  (Applause.)  

I want to start by introducing the wonderful people on stage with me.  Of course, we have Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who are just legends -- (applause) -- legends and dear, dear friends.  They have been here quite often, and they feel like family.  They're used to this place, and we are so glad to have them back and -- taking the time to do this. 

We have Lila Downs -- Lila.  (Applause.)  Romeo Santos we have, as well.  (Applause.)  Marco Antonio Solis.  (Applause.)  And my wonderful friend, Bob Santelli from the Grammy Museum, who has just been so instrumental in making these workshops happen.  Bob, thank you, as always, for being here.  (Applause.)  

But our very special, most important guests today are all of you.  You guys come from the area -- we've got Woodrow Wilson High School and the Columbia Heights Educational Campus here from D.C.  You guys, whoop it up.  Give yourselves a round of applause.  (Applause.)  We have students from Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring -- (applause) -- see, that’s what you do.  All right, we can go back to Woodrow Wilson and Columbia Heights, because you guys didn’t do that for yourselves.  (Applause.)  And Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia.  (Applause.)  Way to go, well done.  (Laughter.)   

And I really want you all to know that today and every day, this is your house.  So I want you guys to relax, to loosen up, to take a deep breath.  Because I want to make sure that you get everything you can get out of this experience, and you can do that if you kind of breathe in and stop thinking about being in the State Room, but actually -- using this as an opportunity to learn and ask questions.  So make yourselves at home.  That’s what this workshop is all about.  And it is one of the most important traditions that our family has started here at the White House. 

Whenever we have musicians or artists or movie stars come here to perform -- which these folks will be doing these evening for a bunch of rich people and fancy people and all of that, right -- the most fun is when we invite young people like all of you here during the day so that you get a chance to talk to these folks and learn from them.  It's a very special part of sharing what we do here at the White House with young people all over the country.

And we've held workshops from everything from classical music, we've done Motown, we've done country music.  We've even done some modern dance workshops, as well as workshops on civil rights.  We're going to be doing some things with film in the coming month. 

So today, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re here to celebrate some of the most fun, dynamic rhythmic melodies you’ll ever hear in your entire life, and that’s Latin music.  Me encanta la musica Latina!  (Applause.)  I'm trying, I'm trying.  Both the girls are taking Spanish, and they think we're pretty pathetic.  (Laughter.)

Now, the percussive beats and the buoyant melodies from these songs come just -- from just about everywhere.  You'll learn they come from the Caribbean and Mexico, and from Central and South America, and also even from Africa and Europe.  And when you put all of that together, you can’t help but move to the music -- even the President, you will see tonight, will shake his groove thing every now and then.  (Laughter.) 

And over the past few decades, more and more people across America have experienced this music for themselves -- stars like Gloria and Ritchie Valens and Ricky Martin have not only helped Latin music move into the mainstream, but they have produced some of the biggest hits this world, this country has ever seen. 

So in a little bit, I’m going to turn it over to Bob, and these wonderful people up here are going to talk to you about their music, but also about how they got where they are today, which is always so cool to hear.  So as you listen to their stories, I want you to think about how the lessons they’ve learned in their lives can apply to your own lives.  Because the truth is, I want you to remember that when all of us were your age, I'm sure that none of us imagined that we would be here in the White House -- none of us.

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago.  My parents were working class.  I was a good student.  But no one could have told me that I would be the First Lady of the United States. 

Romeo was just a shy kid from the Bronx who didn’t start singing until he joined his church choir when he was 13 years old.  And then, I hear that was just because he wanted to meet girls.  (Laughter.)  And Gloria still remembers growing up on meals of Spam and cheese.  Emilio first emigrated to the United States -- when he did, he lived in an apartment, a little apartment in Miami with 15 cousins.  And Lila spent time working in her mom’s auto parts store in Mexico before her career got going.  And while Marco Antonio has been performing since he was a young boy, he knows that there’s no secret to his or anyone else’s success.  And one of the things he says -- these are his words -- he says, “Inspiration comes from hard work.  You can’t always wait for the muse.”

And that’s why he and all the folks up here spend so much time honing their craft.  They spend hours and hours every week, probably every day, practicing their songs, rewriting their melodies and fine-tuning their performances.  It doesn't happen overnight.  And those are the kind of things that all of you will have to keep in mind and do as you work on pursuing whatever dreams you have.  The real message here is that it all takes hard work -- it really does. 

I can tell you now that the President spends hours -- above and beyond what you see him do every day, he spends hours reading briefings and being advised.  And when he is not reading briefings and going over issues, he is reading whatever he can get his hands on so that he can stay on top of knowing everything he has to know about what's going on in the world.  He works every day.  And he has always been that -- well, I shouldn't say always.  He was a little trifling as a young student.  (Laughter.)  He will even admit that. 

But he woke up as a young man and decided, I have to get my act together.  And from then on, he has been a pretty serious, hardworking person.  The same is true for me.  Whenever I have to give a speech I spend a lot of time with my team working it over so that it looks good and it looks natural and that I understand what I'm saying.  It all takes hard work. 

Any business leader that you see who is running a company, let me tell you, they spend a lifetime working on presentations and studying market trends.  Athletes, as you know, they bust their tails in the gym before, during, and after the games and off seasons.  Everybody is putting some work in.  If you are a scientist making great discoveries, let me tell you it will take decades of experimenting and researching before you'll even get a glimmer of a breakthrough.  

So, again, if there's one thing I want you to take away from all of this is that if you find something that you're passionate about -- and that's all us grownups wish for our kids, is that you find the thing that gives you passion -- that when you find it, that you know that the next step is working hard.  There is no shortcut to pursuing your dreams -- than hard work.  And you have everything you need right now, right this very second, to achieve what you want to achieve. 

If you commit yourselves, and more importantly, if you commit yourselves to your education, there is nothing more important that you can be doing for yourselves right now than taking your education seriously and practicing that hard work on your books and your studies and your homework -- being engaged, opening your mouth, raising your hand, making mistakes, getting over it when you do.  All of that stuff is preparation for the success that I hope all of you all see in the years to come. 

And if you do all of that and don’t make excuses, don't let excuses stand in the way of your success -- if you do all of that I know that you might just one day either be performing or living right here in the White House.  You have what it takes.

So keep it up.  We are proud of you.  We love you all.  That's one of the reasons why it's so important for us to share these experiences with you, because you may just take away the thing that you need to spark that sense of possibility in yourselves or maybe pass it on to someone else. 

So loosen up.  Breathe.  And take advantage of these folks who are spending this time with you today.  And I hope you have fun, and thanks for coming.  And good luck this year in school.  You all take care.  (Applause.)

END
11:07 A.M. EDT