Growing up, every time I’d come home from school with a story to share, my mother was there with a snack and a listening ear to hear about what was on my mind. When I came home with a tale about my disastrous second-grade classroom, she marched into the school to figure out what was going on. And as I grew older, including up through my years as First Lady, she was always there for me as a guiding light through whatever fog was clouding my path. She’s always listened more tha...n she lectured; observed more than she demonstrated. In doing so, she allowed me to think for myself and develop my own voice.

Durning my final weekend of my #IAmBecoming tour, I joined my friends Tracy Wilson Morning and Michele Norris in Florida to talk about why it's so important to make sure girls know the power in their own stories. Whether as a parent, mentor, teacher, or neighbor, each of us can show them that their voices are valued and respected from a young age—and that can have an extraordinary effect on who they’ll become in the years ahead. When we view their voices as equal, when we tru...ly listen to them and appreciate what they say, they will feel more empowered to share themselves with the rest of the world, too. Organizations like Honey Shine, Inc. and Overtown Youth Center are living out this message by giving girls in Florida the tools and platform they need to reach their boundless potential.