First lady Michelle Obama turns 50 on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. 

Michelle Obama has spent the first half-century of her life breaking barriers and checking off a series of firsts. Now, as she reaches her milestone birthday Friday, the nation will be watching to see in what other areas she will leave her mark. 

Five years after moving into the White House, and without a re-election campaign to worry about, she has more room to relax in her role and, political watchers say, possibly become more vocal on political issues in the three years left in office. 

So far, critics have complained about Michelle's silence on issues where they expected to hear her voice: Last year, at the start of her husband's second term, she disappointed advocates for tighter gun-control measures after she failed to push harder on the issue in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. She also disappointed some feminists who wanted her to defend their causes instead of falling back on her self-described role as the nation's "mom-in-chief." Nor did she handle racial issues during her second term, as some had expected. 

"The most important thing to remember is, whether you are black, white or Hispanic, you're the first lady and the president of all the people in the United States. That's a huge melting pot, so to reinforce that she's African American over anything else would not be wise," said Anita McBride, who directs programming and national conferences on the legacies of America's first ladies and their historical influence at American University. 

Valerie Jarrett, a top White House adviser and a close friend of the Obamas, said the first lady doesn't want to " _ " 

"She really wants to have a maximum impact and to do that in fewer areas," Jarrett told the Associated Press. "That, she said, "is better than trying to take on every single possible cause." 

But Robert Watson, a Lynn University professor, said he expects Obama to "go a little harder at issues" over the next several years. "Second-term first ladies usually feel more at ease to speak more forcefully about issues close to their heart," he said. 

Myra Gutin, a Ryder University communications professor and frequent lecturer on first ladies, said she expects Obama to continue making both of them a priority in her remaining years in the White House, given their success. Michelle launched the "Let's Move" campaign in 2010. It in particular has gained widespread support, ranging from the National Football League to the Sesame Street franchise , which even gave permission to the produce industry to use its licensed characters for free on fruits and vegetables. 

"There's no such thing as a traditional first lady, not anymore in this technology-filled world. Is Mrs. Obama cutting edge? Is she an activist? No. As first ladies go, I think she's been politically careful because she does not want there to be a major flare-up that would require her husband to use his political capital to clean up," she said. "But she's not exactly just sitting in the White House pouring tea and having receptions, either."
Who is Myra Gutin?
Which campaign did Michelle Obama launch in 2010?
When did she turn 50?
What have critics complained about her silence on?
What massacre did she fail to push harder for gun control in response to?
Who is Valerie Jarrett?
Where is Robert Watson a professor?
What does he expect over the next few years?
What does he say about 2nd term first ladies?
What has gained support from the NFL to Sesame Street?
Did Sesame Street charge money to use it's characters on fruits and veggies?
a communications professor
Myra Gutin, a Ryder University communications professor
Let's Move
 Michelle launched the "Let's Move" campaign in 2010
Jan. 17, 2014
Michelle Obama turns 50 on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014
issues where they expected to hear her voice
critics have complained about Michelle's silence on issues where they expected to hear her voice
Sandy Hook Elementary School
 she failed to push harder on the issue in response to the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School
a top White House adviser
Valerie Jarrett, a top White House adviser
Lynn University
Robert Watson, a Lynn University professor
Obama to "go a little harder at issues"
Robert Watson, a Lynn University professor, said he expects Obama to "go a little harder at issues" over the next several years
Second-term first ladies usually feel more at ease to speak more forcefully about issues close to their heart
"Second-term first ladies usually feel more at ease to speak more forcefully about issues close to their heart," he said
the "Let's Move" campaign
 the "Let's Move" campaign in 2010. It in particular has gained widespread support, ranging from the National Football League to the Sesame Street franchise
No
Sesame Street franchise , which even gave permission to the produce industry to use its licensed characters for free on fruits and vegetables. 