The former First Lady has had a full-on year, having published her memoir, ‘Becoming’ among a string of other events and duties. Though this has, Michelle explains, for the most part been a year of joy and exciting new prospects, it has at times proved to be unbearable and filled her with anxiety.
Following the publication of her book, Michelle went on a mammoth tour that took her across the US.
She confided to People Magazine, however, that prior to its publication, she worried that the book and subsequent tour would flop.
She drew parallels between her work as FLOTUS and her more personally driven work in the years after, explaining that despite having similarities, the two could not be further apart.
She said: “I still remember waking up in a bit of a panic the night before my first tour event in the United Centre in Chicago, this huge basketball arena.
“Were people really going to come? Was it going to be any good?”
“Here I’d been first lady of the United States for eight years, giving speeches in front of huge crowds, but this felt so different.
“I recognise now that the memoir and the tour were really different than what I’d done before — I wasn’t promoting a policy or rallying votes; I was out there, alone, talking about my feelings and vulnerabilities.
“That’s enough for anybody to lose a little sleep.”
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She said: “I asked how many of these girls didn’t feel like they belonged in a room with me.
“Almost every girl raised her hand.
“That’s been the most powerful part of the last year — talking with all sorts of young people about how the things that we think are our inadequacies are usually our strengths.
“The simple act of sharing our fears and vulnerabilities helps us embrace our own stories and recognise how much we share with one another.”
The humble beginning of Michelle has led to her pledging half a million dollars from the proceeds of her memoir to the Obama Foundation’s Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund.
The foundation looks to boost grassroots leaders around the world, largely being focused on improving young girls’ education in regions where they may otherwise be neglected.
In a statement, Michelle said she considers helping others a “responsibility”.
She said: “This duty of giving back is what my parents and grandparents taught me, and it’s a value I’ve tried to live by my entire life — because it’s not enough just to make your way through life, thinking only of yourself.”
The contribution was announced on “Giving Tuesday”, a day when non-profit organisations encourage the public to donate to a worthy cause.
Michelle’s memoir has sold more that 11.5million copies worldwide since its release a year ago, according to its publisher.
Adding to the experience at her old high school, Michelle called herself “incredibly blessed and humbled” by the response to her memoir.
She added: “I’m proud to channel that enthusiasm toward girls around the world.
“My hope is that this donation will help more bold and brilliant girls reach their fullest potential, continuing upward on their path toward becoming the women they are meant to be.”