What I learned 5 years after meeting Michelle Obama

This is an ordinary week.

5 years ago, it was also an ordinary week. Except for a couple of facts:

a) Over the previous weekend, I had met and introduced the speech of the First Lady of the United States of America. 

b) I had never seen so many simultaneous notifications on my Facebook. It was overwhelming.

c) When I walked into the my regular classroom as a first semester sophomore that week, old converse shoes and heavy backpack on, I was frozen. All my 50 classmates stood up and clapped for me with enthusiasm.

If you are wondering what changed in my life after I met Mrs. Obama, I will confirm that a lot changed. I would get phone calls from newspapers and magazines, random congratuations on social media from people I had never seen. All of a sudden, people would call me "Michelle Obama girl."

All of that was pretty cool, but what deeply changed was an understading of the power of influencing others when nobody sees us and its amazing unexpected outcomes.

When I received a phone call from the U.S. Embassy inviting me to share my personal experience on tranformative educational opportunities during a cultural event with youth and Michelle Obama, I was thrilled! But I only learned I was going to introduce her remarks the day before. (Yes, I was in shock too!)

So there I went with my speech: I held my ground, spoke on what I had lived and my beliefs. I even mentioned that during my trips abroad, I had started learning how to say the word "butterfly" in different languages with native speakers I encoutered. 

To my surprise, Mrs. Obama referred to my "cosmopolitan butterflies" in her remarks and even advised her daughters to learn how to say that word in as many languages as possible, since their mother was only able to say that in English.

Wait, what?

In that moment, on live international television, Michelle Obama referred to me as a role model for her daughters. It was all unpredictable. There was nothing I could have done for her to do that. She simply chose to acknowledge something she perceived. 

That was the same logic behind the standing ovation of my college classmates.

But some other interesting things happened on that day.

Before the end of the event, I asked if I could take a picture with her and she said yes with a big smile .When everything ended, I got into some form of line where other high level people were waiting to get their pictures taken.

As the public relations staff settled the right place and lighting for pictures, Michelle Obama came in my direction. I smiled and I mentioned that she was taller than I had imagined. She agreed with a grin and said it was protocol to wear hills to add to her height. We both giggled. I complimented her dress, and she said she loved the weather, allowing her to wear lighter dresses.

Then, the First Lady of one the most powerful countries in the world held my hand, looked into my eyes and shared the following: I am so proud of you. Thank you for sharing your inspiring story. Then someone called her to position for pictures.

When my turn in the line finally came, we took the picture and she said I would get a copy of it. I thought to myself: "yeah, right?"

Almost a month later I received a yellow envelope from the White House with my pictire with Michelle Obama and the following note:

Dear Raquel:

It was such a pleasure to meet you at Oca da Tribo [event venue]. I want to thank you for the kind introduction, and for sharing your story with us.

You are a remarkable young woman, and an inspiration to so many. I hope you take pride in all you have accomplished, and that you will continue to dream big dreams. I know you have a bright future ahead of you, and I wish you all the best.

Sincerly,

 Michelle Obama

If you are wondering, these words are still surreal to me to this day.

So, here are a couple of lessons I learned:

1) Never underestimate the power of simplicity.

2) People see you as a role model, even if they don't call you a (s)hero or clap for you when you enter a room.

3) Major exchanges can happen in split seconds, when nobody is watching.

4) You can't fathom the impact you have on people's lives on a daily basis, in small actions or in once in a lifetime encounters.

I'd like to close this post asking the following question:

What have you been doing with the influence you have?

What do you bring to your family, circle of friends and workplace that is enriching and inspiring?