Middle School
Worksheets
The Life of Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson was born to Fraser and Marian Robinson on January 17, 1964. They were a blue collar family living in Chicago, Illinois. Her dad was a pump operator who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Her mother stayed home to take care of Michelle and her older brother, Craig. By no means was her family wealthy. Her bedroom was actually half of the living room.
As a child, Michelle went to public school. She was so smart that she skipped second grade. She was part of the gifted program starting in 6th grade. She graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in 1981. Some adults in her high school tried to dissuade her from applying to Princeton. However, she stuck to her dreams. She graduated from Princeton University with honors and a B.A. in sociology in 1985. Thereafter, she attended Harvard Law School. After graduation, she returned to Chicago and became part of the Sidley and Austin law firm in 1988. While there, she met Barack Obama who was completing a summer internship.
Michelle's father suffered complications from his multiple sclerosis. He died in 1991. She rethought her work and decided to leave corporate law. She married Barack Obama in 1992. Michelle took a job as an assistant to Chicago's mayor. She soon became part of the planning and development commission. Shortly after, she worked for Public Allies Chicago, a career training program. In 1996, she began a job directing community affairs as Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. In the meantime, two daughters were born to Michelle and Barack Obama. Malia was born in 1998; Sasha was born in 2001. By 2005, Michelle was working for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Her position was officially the Vice President of Community and External Affairs. One of her greatest achievements was recruiting volunteers. Under her supervision, volunteering skyrocketed dramatically.
