You have to stay in school. You have to. You have to go to

Hear the commanding yet nurturing words of Michelle Obama, who declared: “You have to stay in school. You have to. You have to go to college. You have to get your degree. Because that’s the one thing people can’t take away from you is your education. And it is worth the investment.” These words, born not only of intellect but of lived struggle, are both exhortation and promise. They rise from the heart of a woman who once walked the streets of the South Side of Chicago, who knew hardship and doubt, yet who also knew that education was the doorway through which hope becomes reality.

The meaning of her words is clear and profound: possessions may be seized, wealth may be lost, and even health may falter, but education—once gained—becomes a treasure secured within the soul. It cannot be stolen by thieves, nor destroyed by fire, nor stripped away by oppression. It is a shield against ignorance and a lamp in the dark. Thus, she urges the young to endure the hardships of study, to remain steadfast in the classroom, for the prize is eternal and unassailable.

History offers many echoes of this truth. Consider Frederick Douglass, born a slave, forbidden to read or write. The chains on his body were heavy, but it was the denial of education that his masters believed would keep him enslaved forever. Yet Douglass taught himself to read in secret, and with each word learned, he grew freer in spirit until one day he was free in body. His life proves Michelle Obama’s words: education is the one possession that tyrants cannot truly take, for it lives in the soul and gives birth to liberty.

We may also look to Malala Yousafzai, the young girl from Pakistan who risked her life to go to school. Shot by those who feared the power of a girl with books, she survived and rose as a voice for millions. Why did her enemies fear her? Because they knew the same truth Michelle Obama proclaims—that education is power, and that once a person possesses it, they are no longer easy to silence or control. Malala’s courage stands as living testimony that education is always worth the investment, even when the cost is high.

Michelle Obama’s own story adds flesh to her wisdom. As a young Black girl, she faced those who doubted her potential, who whispered that places like Princeton and Harvard were not meant for her. Yet she stayed the course, she pursued college, she earned her degree, and with it, she gained a foundation no critic could shake. Her life reveals that education does not merely open doors—it prepares you to walk boldly through them.

The lesson is plain: do not grow weary in your studies. Stay in school, strive for college, labor for your degree, not because society commands it, but because it arms you for life. When hardships come, as they surely will, your education will remain your strength, your anchor, your shield. The sacrifices of long nights, of discipline, of perseverance will one day bloom into freedom, dignity, and opportunity.

Practical action flows from this truth. If you are a student, guard your time, honor your teachers, and seek wisdom with hunger. If you are a parent, encourage and uplift your children, reminding them that every hour of study is a brick in the foundation of their future. If you are already educated, share your knowledge, mentor others, and invest in the community, so that no child is left without the chance to learn.

So let Michelle Obama’s words thunder in your heart: “The one thing people can’t take away from you is your education.” Treasure it, pursue it, and never abandon it. For wealth may fade, possessions may be lost, but the light of knowledge, once kindled, burns forever—and with it, you can leave your mark upon the world.