--- title: Michelle Obama: First Lady Was 'Greatest Honor of My Life' description: Michelle Obama delivered a message of hope directed at young Americans, choking up at several points in her final remarks as First Lady canonical: https://time.com/4626173/michelle-obama-hope-final-first-lady-remarks/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-01-06T17:55:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-07T07:12:45.959Z article:section: Politics og:title: Michelle Obama in Final Speech: 'Being Your First Lady Has Been The Greatest Honor of My Life' og:description: The First Lady choked up in her final address at the White House og:url: https://time.com/4626173/michelle-obama-hope-final-first-lady-remarks/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt68514e3de114c121/6988b49fe20a87fa5aa93a8d/gettyimages-631085644.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3066 og:image:height: 1725 og:image:alt: US-OBAMA-EDUCATION-MICHELLE og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Michelle Obama in Final Speech: 'Being Your First Lady Has Been The Greatest Honor of My Life' twitter:description: The First Lady choked up in her final address at the White House twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt68514e3de114c121/6988b49fe20a87fa5aa93a8d/gettyimages-631085644.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Michelle Obama Chokes Up in Final Speech: 'Being Your First Lady Has Been The Greatest Honor of My Life' > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=5b80e0da-dd43-4dd9-a937-4ac57328a9b9&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Michelle Obama Chokes Up in Final Speech: ‘Being Your First Lady Has Been The Greatest Honor of My Life’ [Watch (HLS stream): Michelle Obama Chokes Up in Final Speech: ‘Being Your First Lady Has Been The Greatest Honor of My Life’](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tkKFTg3O.m3u8) (1:11)  _Published 2017-01-06. The First Lady gave her final address at the White House_  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jan 6, 2017 5:55 PM UTC The First Lady gave her final address at the White House  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jan 6, 2017 5:55 PM UTC [Michelle Obama ](http://motto.time.com/4607893/michelle-obama-melania-trump-help-oprah-interview/)on Friday delivered a message of hope directed at young Americans, choking up several times in her [final public remarks as First Lady](http://time.com/4624004/michelle-obama-final-remarks-school-counselor/). “For all the young people in this room and those who are watching, know that this country belongs to you, to all of you, from every background and walk of life,” said Obama, who [spoke out against Donald Trump’s rhetoric](http://time.com/4539875/michelle-obama-donald-trump-arizona-speech/) during the presidential campaign. “If you or your parents are immigrants, know that you are part of a proud American tradition, the infusion of new cultures, talents and ideas, generation after generation, that has made us the greatest country on Earth.” Obama spoke at a White House event honoring the [2017 School Counselor of the Year](http://time.com/4624004/michelle-obama-final-remarks-school-counselor/), part of her [Reach Higher initiative](http://time.com/2934727/michelle-obama-essence/?iid=sr-link1) to promote post-secondary education. “When you are struggling and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember something that my husband and I have talked about since we first started this journey nearly a decade ago, something that has carried us through every moment in this White House and every moment in our lives. And that is the power of hope, the belief that something better is always possible if you’re willing to work for it and fight for it,” she said. “It is our fundamental belief in the power of hope that has allowed us to rise above the voices of doubt and division, of anger and fear that we have faced in our own lives and in the life of this country.” Obama choked up when she mentioned her father and how he had hoped his children might one day attend college. “I want our young people to know that they matter, that they belong, so don’t be afraid. You hear me? Young people, don’t be afraid. Be focused, be determined, be hopeful, be empowered,” she said. “Lead by example with hope, never fear, and know that I will be with you, rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my life.” Neither President Obama nor the First Lady have shared specifics about their post-White House plans, but Michelle Obama has said she will [continue working on the issue of higher education](http://motto.time.com/4568004/michelle-obama-zendaya-let-girls-learn/?iid=sr-link10). “I want to close today by simply saying thank you,” she said, with tears in her eyes. “Being your First Lady has been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I’ve made you proud.” ## Transcript [ APPLAUSE ] What's going on? Thank you all so much. Empower yourselves with a good education, then get out there and use that education to build a country worthy of your boundless promise. Lead by example with hope, never fear. And know that I will be with you. [ LAUGH ] ... rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my life and that is true I know for every person who is here today. And for educators and advocates all across this nation who get up every day and work their hearts out to lift up our young people. And I am so grateful to all of you. For your passion and your dedication and all the hard work on behalf of our next generation. And I can think of no better way to end my time as first lady than celebrating with all of you. So I wanna close today by simply saying thank you. Thank you for everything you do for our kids and for our country. Being your first lady had been the greatest honor of my life. 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