Michelle Obama Gives Zaya Wade Advice During Q&A Session

Featured Split Image Zaya Wade and Michelle Obama

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Zaya Wade, Dwyane Wade‘s 13-year-old daughter, couldn’t hide her excitement as she interviewed her “idol” Michelle Obama during a virtual Q&A on Thursday (March 4).

Before the interview began, Zaya took a moment to acknowledge how surreal the moment was, “I’m meeting an idol. I’m literally meeting an idol,” she said. “[I’ve been] preparing for this moment for so long.”

The 57-year-old author matched her excitement and shared that she felt “very special” that Zaya made time for her in between school. While the two discussed Obama’s recently released adaptation for young readers of her memoir “Becoming,” Zaya asked the former first lady advice for “teens who want to be themselves and thrive like you have and currently are.”

“Well, like you have and currently are,” she responded. “I am just so proud of you, you know, being just an amazing role model and embracing your truth.”

“It does take time to know what yourself is, for young people. So, my first piece of advice is be patient with yourself, No. 1,” she added. “All young people are trying on different versions, different voices, they’re learning more about their intellect, they’re learning about what they love, what they’re good at, what they like. This is the period of exploration.”

The mother of two wasn’t the only one dropping wisdom. When Obama asked Zaya what advice she would give young people trying to find themselves, she highlighted the importance of different perspectives.

“We all think that we thrive with people who are just like us, but I think getting a different perspective from someone else who isn’t like you really helps,” she said. “That definitely helped me in becoming me and defining my truth.”

Watch the full Q&A below:

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