"I spent much of my childhood listening to the sound of striving."  This is the first sentence of the first chapter of Michelle Obama's Becoming.  I love it.  I think the first couple chapters of her experiences in kindergarten and early elementary would be so interesting for pre-service teachers.  

I also like the ways she describes the way she learns "college knowledge" and resilience.
I was learning all the time now...in the obvious academic ways, holding my own in classes...how to write efficiently, how to think critically.  I'd inadvertently signed up for a 300-level theology class as a freshman and l floundered my way through, ultimately salvaging my grade with an eleventh-hour, leave-it-all-on-the-field effort on the final paper.  It wasn't pretty, but I found it encouraging in the end, proof that I could work my way out of just about any hole. (78)

Later, she encourages students to plan ahead, start way ahead of deadlines.  Of course, the autobiography is an amazing inside perspective on campaigning, on being an ambassador as First Lady, on living on the South Side and on being a devoted mom while working for nonprofits.  I've imagined talking with Michelle Obama in my living room, and now at least I got to hear her voice and story in my living room!