Flashback to 2008: I am 13 years old and in 8th grade. My main focus in life is getting good grades, having friends, and trying to fit in as a junior high student.

The last thing I am focusing on is the presidential election. I have heard about how a man named Barack Obama was elected president. He is black and I know that it is a big deal. But beyond that, I am completely unaware of the world outside of my hometown.

Go forward 4 years to 2012: I am a senior in high school. Life is full of lasts, concerns about going to college, and trying to get the most out of my final high school year.

A presidential election is happening in the fall. Again, Barack Obama is elected. I am okay with the result, but don't really know much about what he has done or will do.

Present Day: It is December 2016. I have graduated from college after three years and am working a full-time job. I live in a studio apartment with my boyfriend. I visit my family often and try to stay as busy as I can during the week. Navigating "adult" life is difficult and takes up most of my time.

I voted in my first presidential election this fall and saw my candidate lose. I have seen a man elected to be the next president, who in my eyes will only bring harm to this country if we are not careful. And I am about to watch one of my most inspirational, influential, and highest role models leave office: Barack Obama.

I will probably never meet President Obama, or any of his family members. His wife, Michelle, and two daughters have been in the public eye just as much as Barack has. But if I could talk to any one of them, even if only for a couple minutes, I would want to say only one thing...

Thank you.

I would want to say thank you for so many things. I couldn't possibly list them all, but here is a start.

Thank you for your service to this country.

Thank you for making climate change and renewable energy a priority.

Thank you for working to protect our natural land and celebrating our national parks.

Thank you for working to make health insurance available to every person.

Thank you for working to protect women's health care rights.

Thank you for helping support marriage rights for all people.

Thank you for your calm presence as the leader of this nation over the last 8 years.

Thank you for your witty remarks that reminded us all to loosen up every once and awhile.

Thank you for all of these things, and so many more.

I now know just how lucky I am to have been alive during a time where America elected its first black president. I am disappointed in how long it took me to appreciate the time we had during Obama's two terms, especially as I am seeing it come to an end in just over a month.

But I am grateful that I was alive during these last eight years with President Obama and his family in the White House. I watched him and his family succeed in many ways and I am hopeful that we can continue the work that they started. And I am so happy to have Barack Obama as one of my role models both over the last eight years and onward into the future.

Thank you, President Obama. You will be missed.