Christie Vilsack is doing things differently.

In an interview with the Iowa State Daily, Vilsack said she’s trying to put her own spin on being the first lady of Iowa.

“I’m trying to define it for myself because I want to make sure that everyone knows that a first lady or first spouse can be or do anything they want,” she said. “I’m just trying to create the job for me so that I can have the biggest effect on the most people.”

Vilsack is the only Iowan first lady ever to endorse publicly a presidential candidate.

“I just did it, not as first lady, but as the political activist I’ve always been,” she said.

As an educator for 25 years, Vilsack made the decision not to teach but to focus full-time on the job of being the first lady.

“I thought I could have more effect on Iowa’s children by being a spokesperson, going out working at the grass-roots level,” she said.

Vilsack has been vocal on the issues of education and improving Iowa’s libraries. She stressed the importance of beginning education early.

“What I try to do is educate people on issues that I think are important,” she said.

Vilsack, born and raised in Iowa, said she spends much of her time traveling around the state talking and listening to Iowans.

“My overall goal as first lady is to recreate a sense of community in Iowa and to define what it means to be an Iowan,” she said. “I see in my experience a little bit of unraveling of community in Iowa, and I’d like to help ‘re-knit’ that community.”

In order to recreate a sense of community, Vilsack said it is necessary for Iowa’s young people to stay in the state.

She also hopes youth will become increasingly active in politics. She said although students may not be able to give money, donating time and energy also are important.

Vilsack, who has two children in college, advised that today’s young people should branch out and broaden their horizons.

“Travel. See the world. Have as many possible experiences as you can,” she said. “And then come home.”