‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Mayim Bialik Counsels Malia Obama To ‘Speak Your Truth’

Malia Obama will go to college at Harvard — after a gap year — only a short time after growing up in the White House. With one of the country’s most recognizable faces, she’s unlikely to attend classes without almost everyone knowing who she is. It’s inevitable that some will make assumptions about her life and privilege, warranted or not. Mayim Bialik, former child star and actor on The Big Bang Theory, knows what that’s like — and she wrote an open letter on Grok Nation to the first daughter about how to handle those years as a famous person at college.

Bialik, who was the star of the sitcom Blossom from ages 14 to 19 and eventually earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience, wrote that many — including those in positions of authority — assumed she got high grades because of her fame, an inaccurate perception something Obama might also experience. Indeed, a Chicago Tribune op-ed pointed out that folks on Twitter have already said the younger Obama only got into Harvard because her father went there, even though 22 children of presidents have attended the school. The Washington Post reported that Malia Obama’s test scores and GPA have “not been released.” Mayim said the steps she took to take initiative in her education, like seeking professorial advice during prescribed office hours, led to accusations she was seeking “special treatment,” accusations which affected her emotionally.

Notably, Bialik said she lacked confidence to stand up for herself — despite her famous face. She advised Malia Obama to speak up when the occasion calls for it.

“I hope that you have the words and the confidence to speak your truth and tell people that they can go take a hike or whatever it is that young people say when they want someone to leave them the heck alone. I also would imagine that a lot of people who may not agree with your father’s politics might harass you and I hope you have a lot of strength and a good sense of humor to ignore those people or find some sassy way to make them feel stupid for bothering you about your dad’s politics.”

It’s not known what Malia will study at Harvard, or how she will spend her gap year. Bialik noted in her open letter that she would have recommended taking a gap year, if the Obamas hadn’t already announced Malia’s intention to do so. The Washington Post said Malia has expressed interest in film, having interned on the shows Girls and Extant.

An open letter to #MaliaObama as she starts the journey towards college https://t.co/woueA8xv6w

— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) May 4, 2016

As for her day-to-day life in college, Bialik recommends that Obama try to blend in and be herself. It was how the actor handled people who decided to be extra nice to her, or not nice at all, based solely on her fame.

“I didn’t try to set myself apart in any particular way and I didn’t make a fuss about myself; I just tried to go to my classes and eat my lunch and join study groups and attend events that I found interesting.”

Bialik did not go to college in the age of social media, so she was not subject to the possibility of covert filming with a smart phone or an embarrassing selfie. Malia Obama, however, got her first taste of the lack of privacy she may experience at college when she attended a party at Brown University and a picture surfaced of her standing next to what appeared to be a beer pong table, according to The Washington Post.

In choosing @Harvard, Malia Obama rebelled, sort of https://t.co/WhXY95zcqD pic.twitter.com/wgd75bO4OL

— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 3, 2016

First Lady Michelle Obama had apparently told Malia not to choose a school because of its name recognition, advising her to find one that was simply right for her. What was right for her seemed to be a school that’s been home to many presidential children — and famous people — over the generations.

[Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images]