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WATCH: Gay Vlogger Tyler Oakley Talks Education With Michelle Obama

WATCH: Gay Vlogger Tyler Oakley Talks Education With Michelle Obama

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The two reveal some things about their college experiences while encouraging young people to seek higher education.

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YouTube star Tyler Oakley, one of The Advocate's 40 Under 40 this year, has yet another achievement to tout -- he's snagged an interview with Michelle Obama.

The first lady talks education with Oakley in a new video, part of her Reach Higher Initiative to encourage young people to seek post-secondary education. "Education was the key to all of my success, which is one of the reasons why we're doing Reach Higher, because we want to make sure that kids in this country understand that you have to get an education beyond high school," Obama tells Oakley. "Unless you're just like, a super dude like you."

Oakley responds by letting the First Lady know that he did go to college, prompting the two to trade stories about their college experiences: Obama's at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, Oakley's at Michigan State University. Among the revelations are that Obama never failed an exam and that Oakley's college years weren't particularly wild and crazy -- he was a resident advisor for three years, so he spent most of his Friday nights "babysitting" the other students in his dorm. Find out what else the duo shared in the video below.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.