I must admit that I didn't know much about Michelle Obama before reading this book. I only knew of her as the first black First Lady of the US, and that she was liked by many, but I didn't know the reasons why.
This book explores her whole life, from growing up in the South Side of Chicago to her life at law school and law firm, then her search for fulfillment in more community-oriented work to her life as a two-term First Lady of the US. I especially enjoyed the first half of the book, as it was more relatable to me- her family life with a stubborn father and a loving mother, in a decent neighborhood but never affluent themselves. I relate to her desire to succeed, to exceed her parents' and teachers' expectations and reach higher. But I related the most to her when she was a lawyer at a big law firm in Chicago, wondering if there was more to life than an impressive, lucrative career.
This is where I am at at my current stage in life. Lots of people tell me that I have the skills to do well in software, where I've worked for the past 7 years before quitting. The ones that know me better tell me there are ways to satisfy both my desire to make a positive difference in the world and utilize my knowlege in the field - in that sense, I am lucky that the field of programming reaches far and wide, and has the potential to disrupt almost any industry imaginable.
Michelle says in her book that she realized that she didn't enjoy being a lawyer. This propelled her to switch from being a lawyer to a community leader. For me, I haven't dismissed software yet. I enjoy working with computers, but it does feel removed from whoever and whatever I am helping. I loved hearing Michelle's stories of connecting with people who she was striving to represent and help, and wonder if I also need that kind of connection - either to people or nature - to feel motivated and fulfilled. I definitely plan to explore opportunities that satisfy this, either through volunteering opportunities or full-time/part-time jobs, once I settle down next year.
Another thought I had about Obamas' presidency was whether his presidency had something to do with how the political events in the US ended up turning out. It is impossible to know how things would've turned out had Hilary won in the 2008 campaign, but would we be looking at the same country with Donald Trump as its leader now? Obama was no doubt a great thinker and a great leader in my opinion, but I wonder if the pendulum had just swung a bit too far - and now we're having to deal with it swinging back with more strength. In the end, will his policies survive? Would a different past have given us a better future now?
This thought terrifies and comforts me at the same time. On the one hand, it tells me that we have little-to-no control over how much impact we ultimately have; we can try doing the best we can and still have to face a world that is worse off than before. But on the other, it gives me a bit of peace - we don't have the ability to predict the future and all of the consequences for our actions, so all we can do is to do our best in making a positive impact.
Which is exactly what former president and First Lady did. They took their best steps in that moment and steered America toward a grander vision that they had for it. Whether it was the best step or not, no one would ever know, but that does not diminish their accomplishments. This gives me more confidence to dive in and pursue what I believe is right without doubting whether it is the "best" choice.
I couldn't relate as much to the latter half of her book, which talked about her accomplishments as First Lady. But overall, the book was enjoyable and relatable, and gave me life lessons only a great life mentor could give. 5/5