At a forum for students at the University of Chicago, adjacent to where his presidential library will stand, Mr. Obama spoke about his formative experiences as a community organizer and as a young politician running for office in Illinois. But for much of the panel event, he listened.
“Although there are all kinds of issues that I care about and all kinds of issues that I intend to work on, the single most important thing I can do is to help in any way I can to prepare the next generation of leadership to take up the baton and take their own crack at changing the world,” Mr. Obama said during event.
Since delivering his farewell address in his hometown of Chicago in January, Mr. Obama has kept a low profile. He met privately on Sunday with a group of at-risk young men, talking about gang violence and opportunities for jobs.
When a college student panelist asked how to conduct a project involving interviewing day labourers, Mr. Obama told him to ditch the clipboard. When others asked about being young in the age of social media, Mr. Obama advised them to limit photos posted online, including being “more circumspect about your selfies.”
“I learned that in marriage,” he said to laughs from the audience. “That’ll save you a lot of heartache and grief.”
Mr. Obama said his work as a young organizer, which included meeting with Chicago public housing residents, laid the foundation for his time in office. He said he’s been reflecting as he works on a book chronicling his political career.
“This community gave me a lot more than I was able to give in return,” he said. “This community taught me that everybody has a story to tell that is important.”