Becoming

At various points in her life, Michelle worries about not being good enough. Why is this such a common feeling, even for smart, successful people like Michelle, and how does she overcome it?

Many people view Barack Obama as an important American figure, and sometimes it’s hard to see him as a typical person. How does Michelle’s account of Barack help to humanize him? Why does she make such an effort to show his normalcy?

Both Barack and Michelle receive a lot of positive and negative attention over the years. What efforts do they make to try to stay grounded, for themselves and for their family? Why is this important for them?

Michelle describes many of the obstacles faced by minorities in the United States, especially her firsthand experience as an African American woman. What can be done to ensure that everyone, not just a privileged few, have access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

According to Michelle, why did Barack face so many obstacles during his presidency in trying to pass important legislation? Why is there so much hatred between the two major American political parties, and what can be done to encourage them to work together for the good of the country?

One of Michelle’s major focuses as the First Lady was to implement a healthy eating and exercise program for children. Why did Michelle choose this as her major issue? What can we continue to do about this issue, for ourselves and for future generations?

Michelle and Barack opened the White House to people from all walks of life, not just the rich and elite, and they also took time to get to know their staff. Why did they care about doing these things? What message were they trying to send about the role of the First Family?

Both Barack and Michelle invested a lot of their time and energy trying to encourage people to vote. Why does it matter if everyone has the opportunity and the motivation to vote?