Michelle Obama: ‘I Hope I’ve Made You Proud’ (Video)

First Lady Michelle Obama, during her emotional final speech in her role, urged young people across the U.S. to remain optimistic going forward (video below). In her remarks during an event for the 2017 School Counselor of the Year, Michelle described her time as FLOTUS “the greatest honor of my life.”

On Jan. 6, Michelle took to the stage to help award Terri Tchorzynski of Michigan the distinction of 2017 School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association, TIME reports.

While the first half of Michelle’s remarks were dedicated to praising Tchorzynski and other educators across the U.S., the second half of her speech served as her parting message before leaving the White House.

She told young members of the audience to “know that this country belongs to you — all of you, from every background and walk of life. … 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.”

The outgoing FLOTUS added that she and her husband, President Barack Obama, believed firmly in “the power of hope — the belief that something better is always possible if you’re willing to work for it and fight for it.”

Michelle urged young students to share in that belief and to pursue their educations to the fullest.

“Empower yourself with a good education, then get out there and use that education to build a country worthy of your boundless promise,” she continued. “Lead by example with hope, never fear. And know that I will be with you, rooting for you and working to support you for the rest of my life.”

Visibly emotional, Michelle concluded her speech by thanking educators across the U.S. for teaching the next generation of Americans.

“Thank you for everything you do for our kids and for our country,” she said. “Being your First Lady has been the greatest honor of my life, and I hope I’ve made you proud.”

As her family exit from the White House nears, Michelle has fielded repeated questions of whether or not she will ever throw her hat in the presidential arena. On Dec. 20, she squashed that speculation during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

“I don’t make stuff up, I’m not coy — I’m pretty direct,” she said, according to Newsweek. “If I were interested in it, I’d say it.”

Sources: Newsweek, TIME (2) / Photo credit: PBS NewsHour/YouTube