My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today. We wanted to offer some reflections on her remarkable life:

This Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, we wanted to share the story of Ashley Johnson – a leader in our @ObamaFoundation Leaders USA program who is using her talents to create change. Ashley is a Hawai’i native who founded Mohala Eyewear. For every pair of glasses she sells, she donates to Room to Read – an organization in our @GirlsOpportunityAlliance Network – that helps girls around the world stay in school and learn how to read. Check out her inspiring story:

I love spotting The Light We Carry when I travel! Can you guess where I am now? 📚

If you haven’t filled out the FAFSA yet, there’s still time! I know completing the FAFSA hasn’t been easy, and you’ve all been navigating so much this year. But if you rely on financial aid to pay for school, filling out the FAFSA is important. It’s your best shot at getting access to grants, scholarships, loans, and other financial aid resources, so go to StudentAid.gov and complete it as soon as you can.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! My mom has always been my rock and I’m so grateful for all the ways she continues to show up for my family. She’s taught me so much over the years, and I feel so lucky that I get to pass that same wisdom down to my own girls. To all the moms celebrating today, I hope you know how much you’re appreciated. 🫶🏾

To celebrate #MothersDay, the @GirlsOpportunityAlliance asked girls in our community to share how their moms have supported their education and their dreams. Here’s what they said: “Mom, your wisdom and encouragement have been my guiding light, especially on my educational journey. When I shared my dream of becoming a teacher, your simple words of encouragement resonated deeply, fuelling my passion to educate and inspire the next generation.” —My Huong from @PacificLinksFoundation in Vietnam ”Mom, I’m so grateful for all the ways you supported my goal to become the best person I can be. Thank you for believing in me and helping me believe in myself–and showing me I can do anything and everything I put my mind to.” —Janay from @GyrlsntheHoodFoundation in Chicago “This Mother’s Day, I’m so grateful you supported my goal to continue my education. I admire you so much, and you are the world to me.” —Angela from @MAIA_Impact in Guatemala I hope you’ll join us in supporting young women like My Huong, Janay, and Angela — and honoring their incredible mothers — at the link in my bio! 💕

I’m back on @Pinterest! Ahead of Mother’s Day, I’ve created a board that features some fun throwback photos, quotes from #TheLightWeCarry, and some beautiful artwork from artists who’ve shared the ways their moms have made an impact on their lives. Check it out at the link in my bio!

I recently popped by @kingsenglishbookshop in Salt Lake City to secretly sign some copies of the paperback edition of The Light We Carry. There were some great finds in this charming little store — even a familiar face! Take a look.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of @ReachHigher, I surprised DC students who are making the commitment to pursue higher education. Take a look! 🎓

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I launched @ReachHigher at the White House. Today, I got to celebrate #CollegeSigningDay with thousands of DC high school seniors who are heading off on their next adventure. My goal for Reach Higher has always been to remind young folks that higher education isn’t for a privileged few, but for everyone — no matter where they’re from or how much money their families make. I was so grateful to be able to celebrate with these incredible students, and I wish them all the best! 🎓

This Indie Bookstore Day, I want to give a huge shoutout to all the booksellers and bookstores who are committed to showing their communities the magic of reading. Thank you for all that you do. (I’ve also loved seeing the ways you’ve been celebrating The Light We Carry!) Give a shoutout to your local bookstore in the comments and let them know how much they mean to you! ✨

From the very first time that I met @deedyer267, she impressed me with her passion and creativity. Over the years, she worked her way up from being an intern to becoming our Social Secretary, and worked hard to make the White House the People’s House — flawlessly executing events, state dinners, and going the extra mile to open the doors to people who never thought they’d walk through. She tells her remarkable story in her book, Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble. It’s smart, funny, and endlessly inspirational — and I hope you’ll check it out.