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First Lady, Kerry Washington Visit D.C. Arts School

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michelle Obama says failure is OK, but continuing to work hard is more important.

That's her message to students at a Washington elementary school where the arts have been introduced to boost academic performance.

The first lady said Friday she has failed at things in life, but she didn't let it stop her from working hard.

She holds up Kerry Washington, star of ABC's "Scandal," as another example.

Mrs. Obama says the actress is a big star now because she chose to keep perfecting her craft instead of getting discouraged by the many rejections she endured in her career.

Washington was in the audience during the first lady's visit to the school in the Anacostia neighborhood.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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