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Cool, Calm, And Collected

I'm going to miss President Barack Obama

Ryan Oliver

Jan 02, 2017

Washington State University

styloleather

President Obama holds a special place in my heart. He was the first president that I ever voted for, and I was lucky enough to have the first black president be my first official vote for president. To be a part of and witnessing history is something that I think a lot of people take for granted, whether you liked him or not.

This isn't to say I've never had any gripes with President Obama. He has done some things I wish he wouldn't have, and not done some things I wish he would have. If you agree with someone more often than you don't I think that is a win for a presidency. You're never going to get everything you want, and sometimes you have to step outside of your bubble to make sure you're not just blindly following someone.

I'm not taking his flaws lightly either, NSA spying is still a huge issue he's yet to address in a significant way,we drone too many civilians in other countries, and Flint, Michigan still doesn't have water, but overall I am going to miss President Obama in office.

While I do love having someone I share the same philosophy as and someone on my "team" in the White House, a lot of what I'll miss has nothing to do with policy.

I've heard commentators speak about this election that it was a "referendum on decency." I couldn't agree more. The 2016 campaign was unlike any other and was extremely nasty. Whatever your feelings are about Donald Trump and if you voted for him or not, Donald Trump is a different guy than Barack Obama.

Barack Obama isn't out there tweeting about a satire/comedy sketch about him. Barack Obama doesn't break diplomatic protocol. Barack Obama is calm, cool, and collected. You can name any problem, the recession, terrorism-he always got up to the podium and told us loud and proud we're America, we won't bend or break, and I got this. He had a great way of being real about the issues while simultaneously saying don't worry, we'll be ok.

Maybe you like Donald Trump's aggressiveness, tweets, and his bombastic ways of calling people out and you didn't like the way Barack Obama handled things. Perfectly okay to have that opinion, I just, for one, disagree.

I'm going to miss Barack Obama on TV speaking softly and carrying a big stick. Having his renditions of we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Letting everyone know that there are bad things in the world, but we're going to handle it like generations before have. So, to the first President that I ever gave my vote to, thank you for all you've done. I'm going to miss ya.

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Cool, Calm, And Collected

I'm going to miss President Barack Obama

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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