Dear Mr. President,
I am currently a 19-year-old college freshman; you’ve been president since I was 11 and in the sixth grade. How the time flies. I still had my hair in braids, and you still had hair that was mostly brown. Mr. President, I’m writing this because you deserve a thank you. I cannot even imagine how difficult it is to run an entire country, and in my eyes, you did it so gracefully, it would be wrong of me not to acknowledge that.

You have given the State of the Union address eight times during your presidency, and each time commanded the attention of millions effortlessly. When you talk, people listen. We hear about exciting plans for the future, and things that you and congress are putting in to effect. You were bold with health care and energy sector reform. You were bold with marriage equality. You continue to be bold on issues involving affordable education, poverty, and climate change. These changes were not just far off ideas, they personally touched my life. You gave my mom, one of the most hardworking people I know, healthcare. You made good on your promises, and that means a lot to me.

That’s one of the many reasons why I look up to you: for your honesty, integrity, and ability to follow through to the best of your abilities. You encourage the American public and me to overcome our fears and make change “work for us” ­­­­­­­­-- that it should not be something we fear. Every successful team has a great captain and you really excelled in this position. You knew when we needed a pep talk, and when we needed some tough love. It is a true talent to be able to read people like you do, and I hope one day I can have the ability to finesse words like you do.

For someone like me, you are the first president I could relate to as a minority. I’m proud that you were the first black president, and I got to grow up in this country as you led it. I want to thank you for making me feel like I mattered, and making other people, like me, feel like they mattered too. Truthfully, I don’t think I would have ever been as interested in the politics of this country if you had never entered the White House. When you were elected, to me, it was a shining example of restored faith in the American public. That we can overcome racism, and hatred, and intolerance. That being educated, caring, a family man, and being black are not mutually exclusive. You are the definition of black excellence.

Now if all these talents were not enough, you are down to earth, and accessible too. This was evidenced by your actions including inviting rappers to the White House, playing pick-up games with celebrities, and going on television and making us laugh. Your charm was never lost, even with the weight of a nation on your shoulders. That is inspiring to me, as I am sure it is to other Americans as well.

In your last State of the Union address, you said, “I believe in change, because I believe in you...” This touched me on a personal level. Thank you for being the man you are. Thank you for allowing me to feel close enough to you that when you said this to the nation, you also said it directly to me. It’s great to see how far you, and we, and I have come over these past eight years. I would not have wanted it any other way.

Thank you sincerely,
Aliyah Purnell