Special Events In The Past Decades
Hyde Park Academy High School was founded in 1863, and it has taught many bright young people.
This high school doesn’t just have a normal curriculum, but it also gives students other opportunities. One day, the students were asked to come to the library to hear out a special guest…
No Events For That Day
The students didn’t know of any event scheduled for that day, but a group of students was asked to go to the library.
The only clue they had was that someone would be visiting the school. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary – or so they thought!
Special Guests
Students at Hyde Park would be visited by famous alumni like Amelia Earhart, who came to the school a few times.
Even back in 2013, Barack Obama came to visit them, considering he had lived in the Hyde Park neighborhood when he was young.
The White House
After his tour in 2013, Barrack Obama gave the students in the “Becoming A Man” club a tour of the White House after visiting the school and delivering a speech.
However, this time it wasn’t the former president visiting again! Can you guess who it was?
The Good News!
The bad news was that Barack Obama wasn’t the special guest, but the good news was that Michelle Obama walked through that door!
But the former First Lady wasn’t alone! You won’t believe who joined her just a few moments later…
Everyone Was Thrilled
When they first spotted Michelled the room, everyone was thrilled to see her there. They didn’t even care whether she just came to say hi or even if she had a message for them.
It was obvious that this national and local hero was more than welcome there. Then, she shared an awesome surprise with the teens!
Settling Down For The News
She let everyone settle down and told them that she had a few surprises for them. Can you guess?
The first one was that she came with a friend from far away and that he was quite remarkable. When this man entered the room, everyone lost it…
The Students Were Stunned!
Believe it or not, Prince Harry entered the Hyde Park Academy library! All of the teenagers who had seen him on TV and magazines for years were stunned to see him standing there so close to them!
They finally settled down again, and that's when Michelle and Harry began explaining why they were there.
Special Surprise
Michelle Obama explained that they had a surprise for Hyde Park: “Been in Washington for a little while, but we’ve come back home".
"We still have our house here, my mum still lives here. All of you kids, you are me”, she added. Then, Prince Harry chipped in…
"I Was You"
“I was you. I grew up in the same neighbourhood, so I know what you’re capable of. When you look at me, you should see yourselves,” added Michelle Obama.
Then, Prince Harry pointed out that that day was about the students and not about them. Then, he revealed the surprise.
The Cure To All Problems
Prince Harry said that from his experience and travels, “all over the world, speaking to people your age – the younger generation is the cure to all of the problems.”
And this is why he feels like young people should get their voices to be heard. How can this be possible?
The Big News
“And what we’ve got to do, is making sure that somehow – of course it’s possible, we’ve got to get it right – is creating a platform for young people to be able to have your voices heard,” concluded Harry.
But what did that mean? After all this introduction, this is when Michelle revealed the big news!
The Obama Presidential Center
Michelle told the students that they would build the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, right across the street from Hyde Park Academy!
The Center will be a library and a civic center where the people from Chicago will learn, attend lectures, talks, and discussions with each other. When will it be available?
In A Couple Of Years
Funding, logistics, and placement are still an issue, and the building's completion is estimated for 2021.
Whenever the Center is finished, it will be crucial in Chicago's future, explained the two famous guests
Did He Eat Chicago?
Harry also told the students his experience in the city and swore that he never really ate pizza.
One student said to the former First Lady: “Make sure, when Prince Harry’s here, he eats Chicago.” But then, Prince Harry responded the following...
An Italian...
“Make sure he has a pizza, an Italian…” the student said, but the Prince interrupted before he could even finish the sentence.
Prince Harry replied that he had already done that: “I had a pizza last night.” And that was not all!
He Was One Step Ahead!
Prince Harry didn’t just get a taste of one pizza! “I don’t even eat pizza anymore but I had a pizza last night", he said.
"We had deep dish and we had thin crust", he added. After all, who can say no to a decent pizza?
A Promise
Along with the serious promise Michelle Obama and the Prince made, Harry promised the following.
"I will make sure I eat Chicago", the Prince joked. Who would've thought that the royalty had such sense of humor?
Helping The Young Generation
It’s great to see the people that serve as an inspiration to students by listening to them, giving advice and encouraging them to dream and fulfill their goals.
We all know that children are our future, and it’s essential to support and offer them a way to strive! Just like Michelle and Prince Harry did!