In this chapter, the author accounts her life as the first African American First Lady. She states that there is no handbook for any incoming U.S First Ladies. Michelle asserts that the position had neither a salary nor spelled-out set of responsibilities. She was "the only African American First Lady to set foot in the White House" and for this fact, Michelle knew she had to be not only smarter, stronger, and faster but she also had to earn her grace (Obama 247). Michelle also states that life in the White House included choosing an official code, getting used to being referred to as Ma'am as well as the spectacle of the presidential motorcade.

Michele’s aspirations as a young woman from Chicago were humble. Her ambitions included having a family, a two story-building house and a dog. She had grown up in a small rental apartment in the south side of Chicago. However, at the end of the Inauguration Day, Michelle was moving into a house “with 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 28 fireplaces spread out over six floors” (Obama 250). The pace of transition as the author states "never slowed" (Obama 254). The girls were transferred to their new schools, Michelle had to identify her agenda for the next four years and the entire family had to get used to being in the spotlight. Michelle asserts that she consulted with almost all the first ladies that had preceded her, such as Hillary Clinton, Rosalynn Carter, Nancy Rogan, and her immediate predecessor Laura Bush (Obama 252). She also writes that she also asked Craig, her brother, to convince their mother to come to live with the family in the White House. Though her mother was reluctant, she finally agreed to come but "declined Secret Service protection…insisting on doing her own laundry" (Obama 255). Inauguration Day ended well, ushering in the Obamas into a new chapter of their lives with a nation to serve and two girls to look after.