米歇尔·奥巴马东肯塔基大学2013年毕业典礼演讲稿

Remarks by the First Lady at Eastern Kentucky University

Commencement

Thank you so much. (Applause.) Oh, my goodness. Good evening. Thank you. I am just overwhelmed. And as an honorary degree holder, it is now my pleasure to say, Go Colonels! (Applause.)

I want to start by thanking President Whitlock for that very kind introduction, but more importantly, for his decades of service to this university and to this country. And it is my honor to be here on your last commitment. And I also want to thank your wife and your family, because I know that they have served right along with you. So congratulations. I am so glad to be here today. (Applause.)

I also want to recognize Governor Beshear and his wife and dear friend of ours, Jane, as well as Richmond Mayor Jim Barnes, who is here; all of the elected officials we have with us tonight; also the University Singers for those beautiful selections -- just gifted individuals. And I don’t want to leave out Candace for her very inspiring remarks. And to the 14 men and women who just became the newest officers in the United States Army -- yes. (Applause.)

And of course, I want to join in in recognizing all of these beautiful people in the stands today –- the family members who supported you all every step of the way. And since tomorrow is what? AUDIENCE: Mother's Day. MRS. OBAMA: I'm sure everybody is on their jobs,

right? Got flowers ordered, everything? I want to give a special greeting to my fellow moms, and congratulate you for successfully coming out on the other side of adolescence in one piece. You’ve done it. You have succeeded in raising college graduates. I welcome any advice you have on how you got it right. But most of all -- yes, indeed, to the moms, and the grandmoms, and the godmoms, and all the mom figures in our lives who keep us going. (Applause.)

Thank you all. But most of all, I want to congratulate the stars of today’s show -- the EKU Class of 2013! Yes! (Applause.) You all should proud, very proud. As the president said, this is a true milestone in life. And I can only imagine the mix of emotions that you must be feeling at this moment -- the unbridled joy, the unmistakable sense of utter relief. (Laughter.)

You all went through so much to make it to this day -- the highs and the lows, the triumphs, the challenges, the celebrations, the devastations -- and I’m not just talking about your love lives, either. (Laughter.) I’m talking about all those papers you poured your heart into; all those caffeine-fueled all-nighters; those moments of anxiety as you set out on your own, looking to find new friends you clicked with and a new community to call your own.

And for so many of you, I know that graduating from college was not a foregone conclusion. Some of you came from high schools that