Michelle Obama Wrote a Heartbreaking Letter to Her Former Self

Michelle Obama has shared some very personal details about her life on her book tour to promote her new memoir Becoming. Now, as the latest public figure to complete NBC News' series "Note to Self, she shares even more details about her young life as she prepared to attend Princeton as an 18-year-old.

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It's been eye-opening to watch Michelle Obama share some very personal details about her life on her book tour to promote her new memoir Becoming. The inspiring First Lady has opened up about infertility, her couples therapy with husband President Barack Obama, and exactly what it was like living in the White House. Now, as the latest public figure to complete NBC News' series "Note to Self," she shares even more details about her young life as she prepared to attend Princeton as an 18-year-old.

"You're at one of the finest universities in the world," she remembers. "You're smiling, and you should be, you worked hard for this. But even now, after you reached your goal, you're still not quite sure if you belong and can't get one question out of your mind: 'Am I good enough?'"

She reveals, "Years from now, you'll learn that your parents had to take out new credit cards to pay your tuition. But Michelle, what you'll come to realize one day is that you're only seeing what you lack and not everything that your story has given you."

In fact, the letter also has a heart-wrenching tribute to her personal background, specifically her father. "Your father's final lesson will come far too soon. He'll teach you that life is fleeting. So laugh with him until your side hurts. Savor the grip of his hugs, the softness in his eyes. A day will come when those memories are all you'll have."

Michelle gushes about the future she has in store, including the "brilliant" and "good-looking" man she's going to meet (hint: her husband) who will give her two "perfect" daughters. But ultimately, she reminds her young to practice self-love and understanding. "You're more than enough, Miche. You always have been and you always will be. And I can't wait for you to see that." (weeps softly)

In May, Michelle shared an image of exactly what she looked like back then, with a snap of her at Princeton in the '80s. She gave some advice to first-generation college students, saying, "Going to college is hard work, but every day I meet people whose lives have been profoundly changed by education, just as mine was." She added, "My advice to students is to be brave and stay with it."

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Katherine J. Igoe
Katherine J. Igoe
Contributing Editor

Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.