Charles Esther
Michelle Obama has always been a voice of resilience and empowerment.
But one of her most impactful lessons comes from her time as a student — specifically, her first semester at Princeton University.
On a recent episode of Diary of a CEO, the former First Lady shared how she overcame self-doubt and societal underestimation.
Her message is a powerful reminder for young professionals: do not fall for the lie that you are not good enough.
A Challenging Start at Princeton
When Michelle Obama arrived at Princeton in 1981, she was an affirmative action student from the South Side of Chicago.
Though academically qualified, she admitted to feeling “a little intimidated” by the Ivy League environment.
As a young Black woman, she anticipated that people would underestimate her.
That internal pressure, combined with the external stereotypes she faced, led to serious self-doubt.
However, after finishing her first semester with straight A’s, her perspective shifted.
The Realization That Changed Everything
Michelle Obama realised that the self-doubt she carried wasn’t hers by nature — it was taught.
“It was based on a world grounded in racism,” she said.
The moment she saw through it, everything changed.
“I get this now,” she recalled thinking.
“You’re just trying to get into my head. You’re scared of me.”
That was when she understood that the underestimation was part of a larger system designed to exclude and belittle people like her.
Privilege vs. Merit
During the conversation, Obama pointed out that she wasn’t the only affirmative action student on campus.
But she also noted that many wealthy students had secured their spots due to connections, not necessarily academic excellence.
“There were plenty of people there who had access to these seats of power that had nothing to do with their raw academic ability,” she said.
That insight helped her stop questioning whether she belonged in powerful, elite spaces.
She realised that merit was not always the measure by which opportunity was granted.
“Don’t Fall for the Scam”
Now, as a public figure and mentor to many, Obama urges young professionals to reject the myth that others deserve success more than they do.
“Do not let these people scam you. This is all a racket,” she warned.
When asked by host Steven Bartlett to explain what she meant by “racket,” she replied, “That they know more; that they deserve this more than you do. It’s just not true.”
Her point is clear: self-doubt is often instilled by systems that benefit from keeping certain people out.
Seeing through that illusion is the first step to liberation.
Infuriating but Freeing
For Obama, the discovery was both maddening and liberating.
She described her realisation as “infuriating and freeing” — infuriating because of how deeply rooted the bias was, and freeing because she no longer let it control her.
By the time she graduated, she felt empowered and ready to face the challenges ahead.
“I came out of Princeton just feeling like, ‘Let me at ’em,’” she said.
A Timely Message
Michelle Obama’s insight is especially timely.
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions, a move that could limit access to higher education for many underrepresented students.
In a world where these structural disadvantages persist, Obama’s message serves as a guiding light.
She reminds us that capability is not determined by privilege, and no one should feel unworthy because of where they come from.
Final Thoughts
Michelle Obama’s story is more than personal reflection — it’s a blueprint for overcoming doubt and claiming one’s space.
Her advice to young professionals is simple but powerful: don’t be fooled by societal myths.
Recognise your worth.
Own your excellence.
And remember, you belong.
