Dear Hillary Clinton,

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been asked the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?” Any opportunity an adult asked me that mundane question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?” I proudly declared, "I am going to be a firefighter.” Until one day, I proclaimed my career choice and I was told, "My dear! That is a boy's job! A lady can’t do that.” Quickly, I changed my major from firefighting to princessing in the drop of a hat. I then begged my mother to sign me up for a princess class I had seen advertised at my acting school. Soon, I was practicing the proper ways a lady walks, talks, sits, dresses, and acts. I traded my helmet in for a tiara.

I had a rather rude awakening when I discovered that the job of being a princess is quite competitive and doesn’t have very many positions open up each year. By the time I had reached middle school, I had a new idea in mind: Police officer. However, I had only met one female police officer and quickly dismissed the idea of it as a man's job.

To me, police force, fire fighters, trade workers, doctors, CEOs, and most importantly, the President of the United States, were all men's jobs. Although you did not win the election, you paved the path for other women to travel to become our first female president. Thank you for showing the United States that shattering this glass ceiling is possible. Thank you for bringing us so close to this sweet victory that we can almost taste it. You have created a new motivation for women across our nation. More importantly, you have inspired us and brought us hope.

I appreciate that you had to work harder to gain respect. Because of this, I truly believe that you, Secretary Clinton, shaped our nation into one that no longer has to daydream of a woman in office; we have seen this almost become our reality. I think that you have brought a new level of respect that we didn’t have a year ago. You took this country by storm and forced people take women seriously as a candidate for the United States President. You showed a strength that many people unconsciously assume only men can hold. Because of you, my niece was born into a country where women can succeed in politics in ways that were never imagined when this country was founded. One million 'thank you's will never fully express my gratitude.

Thank you for being a role model and encouraging me to try for the jobs that are deemed jobs for a man. I am so thankful that I was 19 years old when I witnessed you shatter the status quo, because I wonder what opportunities I would have passed up on if I just assumed a man would take the position. Thank you for all that you have done for me and this country. You make me proud to be an American, and more importantly, you make me proud to be a woman.

Thank you again,

Samantha Frost, and millions of other women across our nation.