8 years ago I woke up one morning to find out that we had a new president. I was in 4th grade and, unlike my parents, this would be the first transition of power that I would ever witness. I remember it like it was yesterday really. Walking through the hallways of my school and everybody was cheering. Teachers were laughing and smiling because everybody was so ecstatic that maybe, just maybe, this new president was going to fix all of the issues that America had at the time. People were happy. They were excited. This was the start of something new, something good. Frankly, I didn’t understand what made this president so good. I didn’t understand policy or law. All I knew was that he was funny, and that he was going to be the first African-American president. And that is what I found pretty cool.
It is the 20th of January, exactly 8 years after Barack Obama was sworn into presidency. Currently my Facebook feed is filled with live stream links to the inauguration of our 45th President, Donald J. Trump. I’m not going to talk about that because I am past expressing my distress and sadness (I am very distressed and very sad). What I am going to talk about is what I am thankful for. And what I learned over these 8 years.
Firstly, let me address the woman who I will miss the most – Michelle Obama. Your grace and class has taken over the lives of woman all around the world. You promoted kindness, hard work and commitment. You showed to woman everywhere that boys are indeed not the sole focus and that education always pays off. You graced the covers of magazines with your beauty and your radiant smile but also with your power and etiquette. Thank you for showing women (and men) everywhere the importance of language and speech. Thank you for teaching us about health and getting involved with the community to make change for the better. Thank for believing in us, the young people, and for reassuring us that indeed the future is ours. Your final speech is one that will be in my heart for a long time. Your smile has put smiles on faces all around and your power has fed women everywhere to fight for their rights and to achieve all of their dreams. I do not know if it is possible to ever be like you but I know sure as hell that I will try. Thank you to you First Lady, for redefining all standards for women.
Joe Biden, the man who has suffered the most grief in his life but still somehow was able to come out on top. Your humor and wit has made every press conference and every briefing inspiring and entertaining to watch. However it is the power that you exude that makes you a Vice-President (Maybe President? 2020?) that will be remembered forever. Whether it is talking to families of fallen veterans, or speaking out about minimum wage, your voice provides power for the silent voices of others. You speak out proudly for the support of women who have fallen victim to sexual assault, and your fight for all of us is one that has brought a tear to my eye many times. The way that you have stood by the president’s side in times of strength and weakness is one that many, including myself, admire. Your charisma and charm will live in my heart forever. Thank you for your power, commitment and never ending fight to make the country a better place.
And finally, a note to President Obama. In my heart you will always be my president, as this is what I have gotten used to since I was 10 years old. Sadly, this is not the reality. You will no longer be our president. However what you will be is a mentor. You will be a leader and an inspiration. Someone who will have a place in my heart forever. Frankly, I do not know where to begin with this one. I don’t know what to place emphasis on and what things to avoid. However I do know this: Over the 8 years you have made me believe. You have made me believe in change and in achieving goals. You have made me believe in responsibility and in justice. You have made me believe in fighting for what your dreams and for beating all odds to achieve them. You have made me believe in power and in privilege. It is your presidency that made me fall in love with politics and it was your presidency that made me speak out on issues that I both support and disagree with. The passion that you emanate towards everything that you do is one that I hope I carry into every single profession and project that I take on in the future. You have inspired me and you have made me understand the importance of leadership. Your speeches had me glued to my screen, whether they were funny or sad, because they were so captivating. You create sonnets with your words, you draw people in and you make them believe with you. And while some maybe call that deception, in your case it was magic because so much of what you made us believe in came true. Everybody, whether those were minorities or the LGBT community, appreciated your support, because you fought for the people that many didn’t fight for. I watched your “lasts” with tears in my eyes because I saw the ending of legacy, one that I never wanted to come to an end. So all I have to say is thank you. Thank you for setting a new standard for presidency. I do not know if the person that follows you will live up to it but I sure as hell hope the next guy (or woman) will. Thank you for your words, your voice and your kindness. For the laughter, the dancing and the jokes. Thank you for redefining true love, as you did with Michelle, and thank you for making me believe in phrase “Yes We Can”. May your legacy last a lifetime.
The Obama administration was the first that I ever watched closely. It was the one that I attributed the most change to and the one that I stood up for every single day. For the first time I thoroughly believed in something. I believed in a person who believed in change. It was a voice of reason and a voice of power that inspired millions. And that is something that I will remember forever.
Getting used to something can be quite easy, especially when you know it’s going to stick around for a while. However when something so good gets taken away, it is difficult and it is emotional. It’s something that eats at your gut for a long time. This has been eating at my gut for over two months simply because the thing that we never thought would happen, happened. However, I believe that we need to stay positive. America has survived much worse and I believe that this hard time shall also pass. This is the time that the country must come together to create positive change. We must work in unison and make history. We cannot let something like take over our lives. Because each day ends, bad or good, and a new one begins, and that should be what we focus on. One man cannot change the power of a nation.
So finally, thank you for the past 8 years. I will never forget them.
VOICE OF THE VOTELESS 