President Barack Obama leaving the Oval office brings so many different types of emotions to so many different types of people. Coming of age during the “Obama era” was just about everything it should have been. My generation’s childhoods were protected. Our biggest issues were between choosing the right outfits for the first days of school and unmasking the identities of two of the most diabolical masterminds ever known to man— “A.” and Gossip Girl.
Growing up I didn’t pay too much attention the President’s actions or Political policies. I didn’t know what it meant for him to be considered a democrat or what his views on universal healthcare happened to be. To be honest, I couldn’t have cared. The only thing that mattered to me as an 11-year-old girl about President Barack Obama, was that he looked like me.
I am Bi-racial. My mother is Black and my father is White, and where I am from and the time period that I was brought up in, that was still “not okay.” Once I visited my grandparent’s church with my dad, and I was asked to leave the Sunday school class because of my darker skin tone. At four years old, I didn’t quite understand the depths of the situation or why my dad really stormed out the church with me that day. But somehow I knew that it was because I was the only person who looked different than the rest.
Even though discrimination and hatred exists, President Barack Obama leading our Nation has truly shown me that Hope does exists. To see the President of the United States of America as someone with hair like mine and skin like mine, even eyes like mine changed my world. If someone “different” like me could become the President, what was so bad about being “different” after all? No longer was the fact that I was “different” an obstacle to my success. A challenge still, sure, but never more an obstacle. The example that was set by the President was unflawed. Excellence and Prosperity in the future lie within the hands of the youth. President Barack Obama understood this concept and built a relationship with the upcoming generation, instilling values into them that they could never forget; values such as Cooperation, Integrity, and Responsibility. I believe that if my generation utilizes these values instilled in us as we age, and teach the same values to our following generation we could truthfully make America great again.
Out of all the different types of emotions and things I can feel about President Barack Obama leaving the Oval office, I mostly am just thankful. Thankful for a President who gave my generation a voice. Thankful for a President with Morals. Thankful for a President who set the standards for #BFFGOALS. Thankful for a President who made growing up in America a treat. At last, I am very thankful for a President who just looks like me.
Photo Credit: http://greginhollywood.com/tuesday-morning-man-president-barack-obama-11…