In an open letter posted on posted on Seventeen, First Lady Michelle Obama addressing the many problems surrounding women and education, around the world.
She starts out by giving this shocking statistic: “62 million girls around the world are not in school, and in some countires, fewer than ten percent of girls complete high school (as compared to 85 percent in the U.S.).” Even with all of the benefits education has on a girl’s future, the First Lady makes it clear that for some, education is not a priority or a reality. From financial barriers to unfair gender ideologies, there are a ton of things holding girls back from learning.
With all of this in mind, the First Lady says, “Think about all the girls you know who don’t take their education seriously—girls who skip class, or don’t do their homework, or even drop out because they don’t see the point of school.” She urges young girls to remember that they “can do better,” and not only better for themselves, but also for the people around them.
At a time like this, with the tragedy faced by the Nigerian schoolgirls, FLOTUS’ words are spot on.
Read the full letter here.