Michelle Obama said Tuesday that more college students should act like the “wealthy kids” and not be afraid to ask for help if they feel like they are falling behind their classmates.
At an education summit at the White House, the first lady said first generation college students like herself sometimes “sit back and struggle and feel embarrassed because we don’t understand something.”
“But let me tell you, wealthy kids, kids who are used to college, they are so used to asking for help, to getting tutors,” she said. “They are the first ones to be like ‘Mommy, I need a tutor’ and they will get one.”
According to the White House, the “Beating the Odds” Summit is designed to celebrate and support students who have overcome challenges to pursue higher education. Obama shared her advice with the more than 140 college-bound students who were invited to the event, and told them they “can’t procrastinate in college … because nobody’s going to be checking up on you.”
“You are going to feel really free,” she said. “And when you decide to sleep in, I want you to multiply how much money you are spending by every class you take and you will see how much money you’re wasting.”
After stating the importance of using federally granted financial aid money wisely, Obama said, “This is grownup time, so it’s time to be fully responsible for what you do.”
