BarackObamahasadmittedthathestruggledthroughhisinitialchildhoodyearstofindanswersabouthismulticultural,multiracialheritage.Asaverysmallchildhefounddifficulttoacceptsuchvastdifferencesbetweenhismotherandfather�sskincolor.Inhisownwordshesaysthathehadamiddleclassupbringing.Duringhisteenageyears,heevenusedcocaine,marijuanaandalcoholtodealwithhisinternalconflicts,somethingwhichheregrettedlater.Now,hethinksitwasabigmistakeandhewasmorallywrong.Henevertouchedillegaldrugsagainafterthoseyears.

　　Afterhighschool,BarackmovedtoLosAngelesandstudiedattheOccidentalCollegefortwoyears;fromtheretoColumbiaCollegeinNewYork.HemajoredinPoliticalSciencewithspecializationinInternationalrelationsin1983.InthemeantimehisfatherhaddiedinKenyain1982.BarackObamamovedtoChicagoafterspendingfouryearsinNewYorkandworkingatBusinessInternationalCorporationandNewYorkPublicInterestResearchGroup(NYPIRG).HewashiredasCommunityorganizerbyDevelopingCommunitiesProject,achurchbasedcommunityorganization.Theorganizationwantedayoungblackmantohelpthemcollaboratewithblackchurchesinthesouthside.From1985to1988,ObamaworkedthereasDirectoroftheorganization.Hehelpedblacksfightfortheirrightsfromthecitygovernment.Heworkedtoimprovethelivingconditionsofpoorneighborhoodswhichfacedcrimesunemployment.Workinginasmallorganizationtaughthimorganizationalskills.Hewasalwaysgoodwithwordsandwasknownformakingspeecheswhichpeoplecouldemotionallyconnectto.HeworkedwithSaulAlinskywhosemethodwas�agitation�whichmeantgettingpeopleangryenoughabouttheircurrentstateofthingsthattheyarecompelledtotakesomestepanddosomething.DuringhistenureatDevelopingCommunitiesProject,thestaffatthisorganizationgrewfrom1to13andsodidtheirbudget.Then,heworkedasconsultantandinstructorforGamalielFoundation,acommunityorganizinginstitute.Itwas1988whenwefirsttraveledtoEuropeandthentoKenyaforfewweeks,wherehemethisfathersfamilyforthefirsttime.

　　BarackObamafeltthatlawwasamediumwhichcouldfacilitateactivismandcommunityorganization.Soinlate1988,heenteredHarvardLawSchool.Inhissecondyearatcollege,in1990,hewaselectedasthepresidentoflawreview.Thisrolerequiredhimtobeeditor-in-chiefandsupervisoroflawreviewstaffofabout80editors.Ashewasthefirstblacktobeelectedforthisposition,itwasawidelyreportedandmuchpublicizedevent.IthadtakenObamalongsessionsofdiscussionwithconservativestosupporthim.Whilestillinlawschoolin1989,heworkedasanassociateatSidleyandAustinlawfirms.HemethisfuturewifeMichelle,alsoalawyer,here.NewtonMinnowwasamanagingpartnerhere.Minnow,laterintroducedhimtomanyoftheChicago�stopleaders.Inthesummerof1990,heworkedatHopkinsandSutterandfinallygraduatedfromHarvardin1991;afterwhichheagainmovedbacktoChicagowherehepracticedasacivilrightslawyer.HiscouldhaveeasilytakenupagodjobafterHarvardbuthisvaluesandmother�steachingshadtaughthimtodosomethingforthesocietyandthelessprivilegedones.ThepublicitythathegarneredatHarvard,becauseofhiselectionasfirstblackpresidentofHarvardlawreview,ledhimtoanofferbyUniversityofChicagolawschool