Michelle Obama Applauds Hokie Nation At Virginia Tech Commencement (VIDEO)

First Lady Michelle Obama cheered graduates at Virginia Tech's commencement ceremony Friday, offering advice with a nod to the school's strength following violent events on campus.

"I know... I'm supposed to offer you all kinds of wisdom and advice and life lessons. But the truth is, like so many people across this country and around the world, I have been following the journey of this school," Obama said. "I have witnessed the strength and spirit of the Hokie Nation, and I think that you all already learned plenty of lessons here at Virginia Tech."

Obama recounted how, as a 26-year-old, both her father and a close friend died. She said that following intense grief she "came to realize that the best way for me to honor my dad's life was by how I lived my own life," said Obama.

Also on HuffPost: Best Speeches of 2012

Loading Slideshow

• Amy Poehler At Harvard

  Definitely the funniest commencement speech of 2011. Also probably one of the funniest commencement speeches of all time.

• Sheryl Sandberg At Barnard

  "Men run the world," Sandberg told Barnard's class of 2011. "We will never close the achievement gap if we don't close the ambition gap." A great message for girls everywhere.

• Denzel Washington At UPENN

  Washington delivered and inspiring speech about the necessity of failure.

• Tom Hanks At Yale

  Tom Hanks gave the address at Yale graduation, in which he implored the class to "please do not turn off your electronic devices." A warm and funny speech.

• John Legend At Kean University

  Kean University students got two for the price of one. John Legend gave a speech and a swoon-worthy performance at their commencement.

• Arianna At Sarah Lawrence

  "Perseverance is the difference between success and failure," Arianna told Sarah Lawrence grads in her witty and thought-provoking speech. "Failure is not the opposite of success, it is the stepping stone to success."

• Obama At Coast Guard

  Obama warned Coast Guard that they have "never been more important" in his address at the Academy.

• Ronan Farrow At Simons Rock

  Ronan Farrow gave an informative speech about what young people can do for the world at Simon's Rock College of the Bard.

• Michelle Obama At Spelman

  Michelle Obama gave an amazing speech at Spelman College, detailing the school's history, and telling grads, "Do big things."

• Jack Nicholson At Brown

  OK. So this isn't exactly a commencement speech. But you have to watch it, trust me!

From our partners

• 25 Signs You're A Hot Mess | Thought Catalog - thoughtcatalog.com

Comments

[john whalen]

01:47 PM on 07/17/2012

If your successful you didn't get there on your own!!! Someone helped you.

[reedshelby]

05:30 PM on 05/13/2012

Michelle Obama is one of the best First Ladies we have had in a long time. She is very intelligent and compassionate just like her husband. She hasn't just one cause but two very important ones that she supports and encourages others to do as well...and that is her issue on eating healthy/excercising and her support of our military and their familes...along with Mrs. Biden.

[Marian Bailey]

08:03 PM on 05/13/2012

Faved you again. Really nice remarks about the FLOTUS, AKA, First Lady of the United States. God Bless her.

[aearthling59]

05:25 PM on 05/13/2012

Northern Virginia is full of military heroes etc. retired and still in service.

[reedshelby]

05:31 PM on 05/13/2012

What is wrong with having our First Lady speak? name the reason.

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:29 AM on 05/13/2012

Pretty woman,with good brain.

[lovelyliberalchick]

03:52 PM on 05/13/2012

You are the one who is kidding.

[reedshelby]

05:32 PM on 05/13/2012

I agree with you liberalchick...I am very proud of our First Lady.

[Marian Bailey]

08:00 PM on 05/13/2012

Thank you, reed for your kind remarks. I, too, am proud of the First Lady.Faved you.

[SUNFLOWERSUN]

12:13 AM on 05/13/2012

Who cut her hair?

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:08 AM on 05/13/2012

Very pretty.

[hssf1ofthe99]

10:55 PM on 05/12/2012

All you tpub haters just f$&^(*&g kill me. Michelle Obama has a genuine,heartfelt compassion for children.Don't any of you have kids? She would like to make thier lives better and that is all i want for my children and my children;s children.She is my idol!!! OBAMAS 2012!!!

[HuftonPufton]

11:22 PM on 05/12/2012

I agree she is all for our kids...but what about those kids that got aborted for whatever reason...how do you feel about those poor kids...

[peter777]

12:28 AM on 05/13/2012

I am sure she does not like it, and I don't. How do you feel about helping to take care of kids that are born? What are you doing to support them and single moms?

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:09 AM on 05/13/2012

She cannot stop women to make choices like that,you and I know that.

[SUNFLOWERSUN]

12:11 AM on 05/13/2012

Obamas 2012 then 2013 the Romneys.

[treasuredtrophie]

09:22 AM on 05/13/2012

Great point.

[reedshelby]

05:38 PM on 05/13/2012

Obama will be re-elected in November of 2012...and will end his presidency in January of 2017...when the new democratic president takes oath.

[peter777]

12:29 AM on 05/13/2012

You should be banned from this site for such fowl, hateful language.

[TAKEITBAK]

12:57 AM on 05/13/2012

OH really , you must be so pure., how nice!!... Maybe you should try another country to occupy your worthless life., We happen to believe in freedom of speech here..even if it does offend the sensitive little minds , such as yours.. ah shucks! its hard to be so p.c. these days gosh golly.

[treasuredtrophie]

09:23 AM on 05/13/2012

Your a racist only love OB because he is black no other reason.

[magoo49]

10:43 PM on 05/12/2012

ALTHOUGH I AM NOT PERFECT BY ANY MEANS, DID ANY PERSON CHECK HER HAIR ?????????? JUST A BAD HAIR DAY I GUESS?

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:10 AM on 05/13/2012

Her hair do not matter.What she is and her brain is all what matters.

[treasuredtrophie]

09:24 AM on 05/13/2012

She hates white people and this country. Now she is treated like a Queen loves it.

[razaminaz]

11:05 AM on 05/13/2012

do not matter? no wonder you think she has a brain, you need to take a couple of English lessons.

[chawau10]

10:22 PM on 05/12/2012

WHO GIVES A DAMN

[stvinw]

10:11 PM on 05/12/2012

"I know... I'm supposed to offer you all kinds of wisdom and advice and life lessons. But the truth is, like so many people across this country and around the world, I have been following the journey of this school," Obama said. "I have witnessed the strength and spirit of the Hokie Nation, and I think that you all already learned plenty of lessons here at Virginia Tech."

Translation: I have absolutely nothing to say.

[Debra Cable]

10:31 PM on 05/12/2012

LMAO!! Thats what I thought she said !

[magoo49]

10:45 PM on 05/12/2012

i'm with u .she could have said the HONKIEE nation also......

[magoo49]

10:48 PM on 05/12/2012

WHO?was her father??????

[wayne123]

11:07 PM on 05/12/2012

I would be surprised if she knows the answer to that question.

[bump00000]

10:50 AM on 05/13/2012

How about who's your mama at the Mormon tabernacle on mother's day?

[wayne123]

11:04 AM on 05/13/2012

I have no experience and very little knowledge about mormons, i do have a lot of experience in the hood.

[Fan of America]

10:05 PM on 05/12/2012

I count the days when the Obamas are gone!

[rschli7137]

10:30 PM on 05/12/2012

You'll be counting until Jan. 2017.

[SUNFLOWERSUN]

12:07 AM on 05/13/2012

Fan I am too.

[ogledude]

09:45 PM on 05/12/2012

thank you michelle obama for that heartfelt speech about the hokie nation

[kharis]

09:12 PM on 05/12/2012

She`s the coolest first lady we`ve ever had....and beautiful too.

[kharis]

06:59 AM on 05/13/2012

Well she sure beats Laura Bush and Barbara ( quaker oats lady) bush

[Kmudpsk]

09:46 PM on 05/12/2012

Beautiful? You're kidding right? Not even close.

[peter777]

12:20 AM on 05/13/2012

Do you hate every human being?

[lovelyliberalchick]

02:13 AM on 05/13/2012

Stop hate.

[fifty7ford]

09:05 PM on 05/12/2012

why do i keep having to log in each and everytime i want to make a comment????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[bump00000]

10:52 AM on 05/13/2012

I have had that problem also since they finished their conversion.