Dear President Obama,

I regret to tell you that during your eight years of presidency of the United States of America, my birth and home country, I did not appreciate you.

Was I happy that a black man was president? Yes. Was I happy that you were president? No.

When you came into office I was just about twelve years old and the only thing I knew is that you held different beliefs than my family does. I knew you weren’t a bad person, but I knew that there were things you believed and standards you adhered to that I did not.

I regret to inform you that during a majority of those eight years I did not support you.

You cared for our nation. You cared for your wife. You cared for your daughters. You put into motion many amazing things that I am still unaware of today because all I ever knew about were the things I did not agree with.

I regret to tell you that during these last eight years I have been waiting impatiently for the next president to take office. I admit I was a bit afraid of some of the things that could happen while you were in office and I thought that a new president would champion causes I personally feel strongly about.

Now I’m in the second semester of my second year at university. I’m actually near Chicago, your city.

In these past months, from the time I got to vote for the first time for the next president, I have begun realizing the error in my perspectives and ways.

In seeing the way you try to speak on behalf of the people of the United States of America, in seeing how you protect and care for and champion the rights for your wife and your daughters, in seeing how you calmly handle yourself in discussions, in seeing how the past eight years have changed you...I am seeing that I have changed too, but too late.

I wish I could say that I supported you the entire eight years of your term. I wish I could say I realized sooner the good things you have stood for and championed.

There are still many things you and I don’t see eye to eye on, but you did care for our country the best way you knew how.

I watched part of your farewell speech that took place in Chicago. It was the segment where you recognized your First Lady. Your words, President Obama, gave me chills and brought me to tears. You have a fierce love for your family and I admire you for that.

You have shown me what it looks like for a man to encourage women to make a difference, follow their dreams, and step out of their comfort zone to stand up for what they believe in.

In a society where youth are easily impressionable, you have shown young men what it looks like to view women as their equal and counterpart. In a society where women are still constantly devalued, you have shown women what it looks like to be proud of who they are and stand strong in their beliefs. That is powerful.

I wish that I had realized these things sooner.

Now we have a new president. Those eight years of wishing have come to a close and I’m left sitting here wondering what will happen to our nation next. I am determined to learn from my past mistakes of letting my strong stances cloud my vision. There are things that I don't agree with President Trump on. I may not be happy that he is president. But I will not ignore the good that he does like I did with you.

I apologize for not appreciating you sooner. I suppose it is often true that we don’t recognize what we have until it’s gone.

Thank you for teaching me over these past eight years.

Thank you for leading our nation with grace, class, dignity, strength, honor, and hope.

Sincerely, a citizen of this nation.