First Lady Michelle Obama

When people ask First Lady Michelle Obama to describe herselfshe doesn't hesitate to say that first and foremostshe is Malia and Sasha's mom.

But before she was a mother — or a wifelawyeror public servant — she was Fraser and Marian Robinson's daughter.

The Robinsons lived in a brick bungalow on the South Side of Chicago. Fraser was a pump operator for the Chicago Water Departmentand despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at a young agehe hardly ever missed a day of work. Marian stayed home to raise Michelle and her older brother Craigskillfully managing a busy household filled with lovelaughterand important life lessons.

A product of Chicago public schoolsMichelle Robinson studied sociology and African-American studies at Princeton University. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1988she joined the Chicago law firm Sidley & Austinwhere she later met Barack Obamathe man who would become the love of her life.

After a few yearsMrs. Obama decided her true calling was working with people to serve their communities and their neighbors. She served as assistant commissioner of planning and development in Chicago's City Hall before becoming the founding executive director of the Chicago chapter of Public Alliesan AmeriCorps program that prepares youth for public service.

In 1996Mrs. Obama joined the University of Chicago with a vision of bringing campus and community together. As Associate Dean of Student Servicesshe developed the university's first community service programand under her leadership as Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the University of Chicago Medical Centervolunteerism skyrocketed.

Mrs. Obama has continued her efforts to support and inspire young people during her time as First Lady.

In 2010she launched Let’s Move!bringing together community leaderseducatorsmedical professionalsparentsand others in a nationwide effort to address the challenge of childhood obesity. Let’s Move! has an ambitious goal: to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Whether it's providing healthier food in our schoolshelping kids be more physically activeor urging companies to market healthier foods to our childrenLet’s Move! is focused on giving parents the support they need to make healthier choices for their kids.

In 2011Mrs. Obama and Dr. Jill Biden came together to launch Joining Forcesa nationwide initiative calling all Americans to rally around service membersveteransand their families and support them through wellnesseducationand employment opportunities. Joining Forces works hand in hand with the public and private sector to ensure that service membersveteransand their families have the tools they need to succeed throughout their lives.

In 2014Mrs. Obama launched the Reach Higher Initiativean effort to inspire young people across America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high schoolwhether at a professional training programa community collegeor a four-year college or university. Reach Higher aims to ensure that all students understand what they need to complete their education by working to expose students to college and career opportunities; helping them understand financial aid eligibility; encouraging academic planning and summer learning opportunities; and supporting high school counselors who do essential work to help students get into college.

In 2015Mrs. Obama joined President Obama to launch Let Girls Learna U.S. government-wide initiative to help girls around the world go to school and stay in school. As part of this effortMrs. Obama is calling on countries across the globe to help educate and empower young womenand she is sharing the stories and struggles of these young women with young people here at home to inspire them to commit to their own education.

As First LadyMrs. Obama looks forward to continuing her work on the issues close to her heart — supporting military familieshelping children lead healthier livesand encouraging all our young people to fulfill their boundless promise.