No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens.

Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.

You've got to make choices that make sense for you because there's always going to be somebody who'll think you should do something differently.

We're going to have to change our traditions, our history.

Walk away from 'friendships' that make you feel small and insecure, and seek out people who inspire you and support you

Although the circumstances of our lives may seem very disengaged, with me standing here as the First Lady of the United States of America and you just getting through school, I want you to know we have very much in common. For nothing in my life ever would have predicted that I would be standing here as the first African-American First Lady.

You look at all the sporting companies out there. I won't name names, but we know who they are. Good brands and logos and things like that, and they have to start catering to real women. Even in how their sports apparel is designed, and the commercials - you want to look at a commercial and see yourself.