Flanked by four South African youths, Michelle Obama fielded education-related questions from MTV Base DJ Sizwe. Youths from four U.S. cities--New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Kansas City, Missouri, exchanged viewpoints with their South African counterparts. Grammy award-winning singer John Legend sat in on the discussion with students from Los Angeles.
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| Michelle Obama at the Sci-Bono Discovery Center in Johannesburg |
"I want to ask you all to think about what barriers will you break down? What legacy will you leave for the next generation?" she said.
She called for youths across the world to share ideas with each other, establishing communication and developing relationships that cross national boundaries.
The first lady, known as much for various causes including championing youth education and fitness as she is for her fashion choices, shared her story about growing up without wealth and facing doubts about her ability to succeed. She went on to earn degrees from Princeton and Harvard universities. She hoped that her and U.S. president Barack Obama's stories would inspire others to establish dreams and work at fulfilling them.
She was incredibly comfortable cracking jokes with the teenagers and wasn't hasty in her departure, despite the heightened security surrounding her presence. And from a fashion perspective, she donned a blouse by Nigerian designer Maki Oh (as a Nigerian, I had to throw this in the mix,) no doubt raising the profile of the rising designer.
I've been asked by family and friends if I got a chance to meet her personally and I can only answer that with an "I wish." Still, I left the event feeling like I had shared some one-on-one time with one of "my girls" and not one of the most powerful women in the world.
If you'd like to read my news story on the event, click here
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