With hope and excitement as palpable as the spring heat rising from the freshly-graded grass amphitheater, the earnest crowd of thousands cheered at Michelle Obama's words of inspiration, she herself having been inspired by their passionate invitation to deliver the commencement address to the first graduating class of the state's newest university.
The woman who came from working class beginnings to become First Lady was welcomed with much anticipation to the farming community that had been settled by immigrants with that very same hope and excitement. Obama's visit is the biggest thing to hit Merced ever, complete with two days of celebration and activities.
The class of 500 worked hard to court Obama as a speaker. She mentioned the creativity and passion with which they campaigned, sending hundreds of letters, emails, videos and 900 valentines.
Quoting american activist Marian Wright Edelman, "service is the rent we pay for living," Obama urged the graduates to give back to their communities. "Remember that you are blessed-- remember that in exchange for those blessings you must give something back." She told the crowd about her experience giving back to her community, founding the first Office of Community Service at the University of Chicago. "You must reach back and pull someone up. You must bend down and let someone else stand on your shoulders so that they can see a brighter future."
"Hold on to the hope that brought you here today, the hope of laborers and immigrants, settlers and slaves, whose blood and sweat built this community and made it possible for you to sit in these seats. There are a lot of people in your lives who know a little something about the power of hope. Look, I know a little something about the power of hope. My husband knows a little something about the power of hope. You are the hope of Merced, and of this nation."
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