Graduating high school seniors still have a month to go before they receive their diplomas and head off to college, but for a group of Democracy Prep senior scholars, the advice that they are sure to receive on that day came early, and the inspiration was delivered courtesy of the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.

Partnering with MTV, Mrs. Obama hosted her third annual “National College Signing Day” event in Harlem to celebrate students committed to pursuing higher education as part of her Reach Higher initiative.

“As we all know, the best path to a steady future is getting your education and training beyond high school,” Mrs. Obama told MTV news. “So we want them to feel pumped up about this next phase of their journey knowing that a high school diploma is not the end, it’s just the beginning of their journey.”

Mrs. Obama was joined by several notable celebrities including Robert De Niro, Tracee Ellis Ross, Melissa McCarthy and many other stars who showed their support through sharing stories of their college experience, words of encouragement, and even songs.

Check out pictures from the day, and join us in cheering on our seniors as they prepare to take the next step in their journey!

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