'The whole thing was like so unreal': Former President Obama surprises writing students on Zoom
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Updated: 11:22 AM EST Feb 19, 2021
WMTW News 8
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Updated: 11:22 AM EST Feb 19, 2021
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WMTW NEWS 8'S ALICE KEEFE TALKED WITH SOME OF THOSE STUDENTS... AND HAS OUR STORY. BACK IN DECEMBER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SENT A COPY OF HIS NEW MEMOIR, A PROMISED LAND, TO THE 26 MAINE HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO MAKE UP THE YOUNG WRITERS AND LEADERS PROGRAM... AND FOLLOWED UP WITH A LETTER. 1:01-1:17 YOU CAN SPARE SOME TIME FROM YOUR BUSY LIVES AS STUDENTS TO JOIN ME FOR A ZOOM CALL ON TUESDAY THEN WE CAN TALK TOGETHER ABOUT OUR LIVES AS WRITERS AND LEADERS. BEST WISHES BARACK OBAMA ááSCREAMINGáá 10:22 IT WAS SURREAL 10:32-36 THE WHOLE THING WAS LIKE SO UNREAL. BUT IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND WE HAVE, LIKE, VIDEO PROOF THAT IT HAPPENED. WHILE OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT... THE WHTIE HOUSE ACTUALLY NAMED THE YOUNG WRITERS AND LEADERS PROGRAM ONE OF THE TOP 12 ARTS AND HUMANITITES PROGRAMS IN THE NATION. 2:06 HELLO PRESIDENT OBAMA 12:17-12:18 WE STARTED BY ASKING HIM QUESTIONS... 2:46-2:55HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIKED EVERYTHING YOU WRITE? NO! SOMETIMES I WRITE, MOST OF THE TIME I WRITE SOMETHING I SAY THIS IS STUPID. FOR AN HOUR... THE FORMER PRESIDENT GAVE THEM ADVICE ON WRITING, LIFE AND HOW TO BE LEADERS 13:37-41 YOU NEED TO LIKE CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY FIRST IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE WORLD 17:03-17:10 MY WHOLE LIFE I HADN'T IMAGINED MYSELF TALK TO A PRESIDENT. PRESIDENT OBAMA IN FRONT OF ME LIKE I AM LITERALLY TALKING TO HIM 14:38-14:48 HONESTLY AT THE END OF THAT CALL I COULDN'T HELP BUT FEEL LIKE A REALLY LASTING IMPRESSION THAT LIKE, MAYBE LIKE THE REALLY IMPOSSIBLE STUFF THAT EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT ISN'T THAT IMPOSSI