First lady Michelle Obama delivered an emotional final speech yesterday in the White House at the 2017 School Counselor of the Year Event - part of the Reach Higher initiative she set up in 2015.
In her 21 minute speech she tearfully reflected on her eight years as first lady. She spoke of the beauty of diversity and of the importance of freedom across the nation as it heads towards Trump administration.
Her message to young people was of hope and education. She pressed the importance of hard work saying, 'I can think of no better message to give our young people than: know that this country belongs to you, to all of you. From every background and walk of life...with a lot of hard work and good education anything is possible - even becoming president.'
She continued saying, 'to the young people our there. Do not ever let anyone make you feel like you don't matter, or like you don't have a place in our American story—because you do - to be exactly who you are.'
At the end of her speech she fought back tears as she gave her final farewell: 'I want to close today by simply saying thank you. Thank you for everything you do for our kids and for our country. Being your first lady has being the greatest honour of my life and I hope I have made you proud.'
Watch Michelle's full speech here