Eight years ago a twelve-year-old was inspired by a poster of a guy born in Hawaii with the words Change and Hope plastered on them. Since then that girl has finished middle school, graduated high school, and is preparing to study abroad in England next semester (yes she's very excited). And now she's looking at a new Commander-in-Chief who doesn't even begin to fill the shoes of the last.
There are so many things I'm going to miss about the Obama administration:
President Obama-
The man himself. I'll miss your humor, your passion, and your kindness. You're a great man and you were a great president. You held the office with grace and poise and you've earned your place in the history of this great nation.
Michelle Obama-
Although Melania Trump might keep her around, you know for plagiarism purposes.
But seriously, her Let's Move initiative that helped battle childhood obesity. Who knows maybe she'll get so into this that she'll decide to run.... for president. Promise me you'll think about it, Michelle.
Malia and Sasha-
I can't imagine how stressful growing up in the White House was, but they did it. And I'd say Sasha going to Harvard is solid proof that they did okay. You had to deal with headlines that were meant to hurt and comments that were intended to have an impact. You've watched your parents get slandered in the papers, attended events, all the while going to school (and being pretty good students if Harvard is anything to go by). There were even times when you found yourself in the crossfire when bored politicians would take shots at your clothing choice. It must have been hard growing up on display but you did it and you made it look easy.
Joe Biden-
Any goodbye to the Obama administration would be lacking without a shout-out to everyone's favorite Vice President.
Not only did you make a pretty good Vice President, but you're so cool that you just stood there and the internet still went nuts. You became a meme. You hold a football in the Oval Office, meme. You look out a window, meme. You touch President Obama, and best friend, on the shoulder, bromance meme. Don't even get me started on the finger guns.
You're so great CNN had an empty podium ready for you at the Democrat primary debate back in October. They were just waiting there, expecting you jump on the fastest Amtrak or parachute in or something.
As someone who grew up in Newark, Delaware, you make me proud to say "I'm from Newark, Delaware," which I normally have to quickly follow up with, "That's where the University of Delaware is." (It's worth mentioning that I currently attend Fairleigh Dickenson University and Chris Christi does not inspire the same sort of pride.)
You absolutely deserve the Presidential Medel of Freedom, for the work you've done for the people of this county. Your dedication towards women's right, cancer research, and trains is as inspiring as the last one is charming. Even though you've been faced with immense tragedy you've gotten back up to face a new day with new struggles and that's one of the bravest things anyone can do.
Am I being a little dramatic, maybe? But these are the people who met with leaders from other countries and stood in front of crowds and represented me and spoke on my behalf. They voted and signed for things that they believed were in my best interest. I never met these people but they worked for my benefit, and the benefit of the rest of the nation.
I'm not going to lie, I'm skeptical of the new president. But I'd love it if he proved me wrong.
