Speaking at a London girls' school in 2009, Michelle Obama makes a passionate, personal case for each student to take education seriously.

It is this new, brilliant generation, she says, that will close the gap between the world as it is and the world as it should be.

Michelle Obama's life as First Lady of the United States is informed by her early life, growing up as the daughter of a pump operator for the Chicago water department. 

Guest blog post by Madhu Arora

I hate: 

1. That I have lost my life the way it was. 
In the five years before my son was born, I lived in three countries, seven cities and 15 homes and loved it. But never again will I feel as footloose and fancy-free as I was.