First Lady Michelle Obama is covering the February edition of MORE Magazine. In the issue, she reflects on what it means to be the first African-American First lady and her mentoring program at the White House designed to inspire a new generation of young women. In the article, she notes that mentoring is something she takes very personal.
“It’s very personal,” she says. “I mean, growing up the way that I did—kid from the South Side, going to public schools—the more my career developed, I realized how much I didn’t see, how little exposure I had to opportunities.” (Michelle rode city buses for three hours a day to attend the distant magnet high school she tested into, and she became class treasurer).
She also stated in the article she mentored another political girl favorite, Congresswoman Terri Sewell. (D-AL). 
As a sophomore at Princeton, Obama served as a “big sister” to another African-American girl, Terri Sewell, who worried about fitting in. Seeing Obama get into Harvard Law inspired Sewell to apply when the time came.When Sewell’s district was hit by deadly tornadoes last April, both Obamas flew to Alabama to offer support. At one point during the visit, Sewell hung back to chat with her old college friend while the president and the governor surveyed the scene. But the first lady cut the reunion short. “You and I can talk anytime,” Sewell remembers her scolding. “You need to go up there and make sure you’re getting proper coverage as a congresswoman. You should be discussing disaster relief with the governor and president!” “And she was right,” Sewell adds. “She’s mentoring me even now.
To read more about the mentoring program and why it’s so important to the First Lady, head over to MORE.
