First lady Michelle Obama gives pep talk to essay contest winners visiting US from England

Michelle Obama gives pep talk to English students

WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama has given a pep talk to visiting students from England, saying they have shown they aren’t afraid of the hard work that will take them places in life.

Mrs. Obama met with the group of 11 students at the White House on Thursday. They are from schools across the London borough of Islington and were rewarded with the trip to the U.S. for winning a Black History Month essay competition.

She urged them to make the most of their high school years. She called it “practice for the rest of your life.”

One girl is a student at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington. Mrs. Obama spoke at the school during a visit to London last April.

(This version CORRECTS the number of students to 11.)