Dear former President Obama and family,
Eight short years ago, you were inaugurated as President, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in sixth grade, sitting in my social studies classroom, when one of my classmates brought in a tape he recorded from the night before. Being I was only 11-12 years old, I don't remember ever having an opinion of a black president. I hardly remember what my parents thought of a black president. I grew up with you and Michelle as my leaders and I cannot be more thankful of that. Between the two of you, you have shown this world what it means to be kind, accepting and humble. I know people will have words of why you weren't a great president, but you were also leading an entire country—who wouldn't make some mistakes? I have never feared my well-being once with you in the house and I thank you for that.
Eight years is a long time. In those eight years, you've reduced the number of civilians without health insurance, repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", began normalizing relations with Cuba, convinced China to join with the US to stop climate change, and said during the 2008 election, "The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there."
I believe that you helped us Americans "get there." Not only did you, and the help of many others, do just that, but you have helped so many people countless times. You have changed this world in ways no one ever has before, and for that I commend you. You gave us something to believe in. I have not once felt abandoned, or attacked by you. I have never felt that there is no respect for anyone in this world from you.
In this White House, I believe you are to respect the leader and the First Lady. Barack and Michelle, you have both demanded respect from all American's without asking once. Michelle has been an amazing First Lady. She contributed to help America eat healthier with "Lets Move", and helped women feel not only comfortable in their skin, but proud to be in their skin. She knows Black Lives Matter, but she also cares about other lives. She raised her girls in a home that felt like a home and didn't raise them to be "The President's Daughters." The entire time you were in office Barack, you and Michelle made America feel like home.
I hate to say that I am a white female who is scared of the future, not only because of Donald Trump taking your place, but because of all of the things you've worked towards for us American's, I feel, is about to go down the drain. I saw a comment on the Facebook Live Inauguration that stated, "If you're not scared today, you're not a woman, gay, or a minority." As much as it pains me to say it, it's true. I do hope Donald Trump makes good change in this world. I do hope he acts the way you did.
I am going to miss you and your family so much. I am so honored to have lived in a time where the Obama's were in the White House. You were my president, you are my president, you will always be my president.
From your fellow American,
Me.
