At the rather young age of 18 years old, I haven’t lived to be under the leadership of many presidents. My memory can’t go back to Bill Clinton’s presidency, and I was still too young to be impressed by George W. Bush. The only president who has made a true impact on me so far has been Barack Obama.
I was only ten years old when Obama was first elected, but yet I remember the historical event of the election of our first African-American president like it was yesterday. My entire adolescent life has been under Obama’s leadership, and I honestly couldn’t be more grateful. He helped legalize gay marriage across the country, was a passionate proponent for women’s rights, expanded embryonic stem cell research, saved this country from a devastating financial depression, and had the most diverse administration in U.S history. He helped the United States move forward. Obama might not have been perfect, but he did everything he could to succeed in the face of opponents who fought back vigorously.
Regardless of what people say, the fact that he was the first African-American president is an accomplishment on it’s own. He faced horrific criticism about his race from those who opposed him, and scrutiny regarding his nationality (specifically from a certain president-elect). Yet he handled all of the ugly comments with pure grace each time.
He understands the importance of representation. He once allowed a little black boy to feel his hair to see “if it was like his own.” He nominated Loretta Lynch to serve as Attorney general, the first black woman to hold the position, and Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, the first Hispanic individual to ever serve as a justice.
Even if you don’t completely agree with his platform, Obama is undeniably a classy and intelligent individual. In fact, the entire First Family has been an elegant representation of the United States. Both Barack and Michelle are highly educated, and their daughters have remained out of trouble for these past eight years. Obama hasn’t had any scandals or affairs while in the White House, as he has always displayed being unapologetically in love with Michelle. He doesn’t go on Twitter rants or say things impulsively — he has always handled situations with dignity, and has been recognized as an outstanding orator.
I know I will go through many more presidents in my lifetime, but Obama’s leadership will stick with me for forever. To serve as Commander in Chief with such humility, humor, and poise is crucial to millions of young people around the country, and Obama did exactly that. Although his subtle sass (such as the ‘mic drop’ at the White House correspondents’ dinner) was key to his style as president, it is not all he will be known for. People will try to counter his accomplishments left and right, but his charm and refinement speaks for itself. I’m not sure what the next four years hold for the United States, but I will remain hopeful. Because, regardless: Obama will always be my president.
