Dear President Trump,

We are millenials, we are the future. The problem is we as millennials have concerns. We do not blame you, we do not really blame any one person. We have come to realize that sitting around blaming is not going to make change. We know that talking and expressing our views will make change. We get a bad rep and you do as well we are cut from the same cloth in that way. It is time for change though. So Mr. President in this letter to you are three letters all of us grew up in Upstate NY. We write these letters not to condemn but rather inspire. We have a common fear, a fear that comes from everyone saying we will have to make a change, however, our fear is that there may not be much of a country left to change. It is not up to us when we are older this is what we can do we can vote and we can make our voices heard so here are our voices.

Tessa, When I first started this letter it was just to be mine the next day a girl’s letter appeared on my twitter feed. I had never heard of her before but she goes to the high school I graduated from. Her letter inspired me to do this as multiple letters, because my opinion alone does not speak for millennials. I contacted Tessa and asked if I could use her letter and she gave me permission. So here is what Tessa has to say,

“Dear Mr. President,

I don’t think you’re ignorant, in fact I’m sure you are a very intelligent man. What I do think is that you don’t understand, you do not understand what it’s like to be living at the line. The poverty line is practically light years away from your economic standpoint, but as your job I think it is important that you know what it is like at this line and how your actions will affect me and others like me. I’m poor, I’m not going to be homeless but I’m poor. There have been times that my mother had worked multiple jobs, there have been times I have gone to bed home alone so that my mother could afford rent, so that my mom could buy food.

I am a child of divorced parents, for almost seven years I have lived in poverty, my mother and I have moved from apartment, to house that was being foreclosed on back to another shoebox apartment. You might be wondering why this should concern you at all and this is why. I am the future of this country, one day my generation will be in charge of this country and considering that fifteen million children are currently living under the poverty line(nccp.org) you should be more concerned with my fellow generation and our ability to run this country effectively. I’m not saying that I rely on the free lunch program that you are trying to repeal, but my family benefits from it and I’m aware and I’m sure you’re also aware that those fifteen million children need this program to be able to eat at least one full meal a day. Getting rid of this would be inhumane, this would be dangerous and harmful to these families and their parents that need that meal to be able to make sure these children can eat.

I can’t afford to go to private school, therefore I am part of the public school system, this branch of education is looked down upon by you and many people that are currently at the position you are. But I am here to tell you that this school system is beneficial and helpful to young people like me that need an education and want to be able to succeed in life. My teachers are amazing I am taught to think for myself based off of facts, and I would not want to in a private school because education is a human right that should not and can not be restricted from others.

I’m sure you don’t care, and I understand that this will not affect you at all but I figured it would be beneficial for you to understand how much the millennials have been impacted by the help from government and the way that they have attempted to hold us above the line and offer us with the same opportunities as people with more money than we do. Please remember that This is the future of our country and that in order to “Make America Great Again” we must first make sure that my generation can continue the legacy of this great country.”

Sincerely,

Tessa Woodhams

Ellie, the second letter is written by Ellie. I asked her to be the third person on this letter because she has differing views from me. See this is supposed to be a letter from millennials so I asked Ellie to do this so we could cover the scope of millennials from all over the place. I graduated with Ellie last year and this is what she has to say Mr. President.

“Dear Mr. President,

As I’m sure you’re aware, many people in our country are not very happy with you. While I don’t think you’re necessarily a mean-spirited person, I think that there are many things happening right now that don’t take “the little guy” into account, and this boils down to the lack of empathy and compassion on your team. Now, I don’t know you personally, but you likely have not faced adversity. I haven’t either! I’ve always been privileged enough to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table. However, I often say to myself “what if?” What if I was not so fortunate to have had these things growing up? You and I could just say “thank God!” and move on with our lives, but do you really feel good about that? If you are not FOR the people, you are against them. This is why I feel that the ACA is important, why Planned Parenthood is important, why funding public schooling is important. Healthcare and education should not be a privilege but a RIGHT, especially in such a great country as ours, and being poor shouldn’t have to be a death sentence (figuratively or literally). Yes, there are people who abuse the system, but I believe this can be taken care of with reform, rather than scrapping the programs altogether.

Some other concerns I have regard the treatment of minorities, and the bottom line is that everyone should be treated equally, and we have to be more strict in disputing hateful speech and actions against people of color, LGBTQ+ people, etc. I also think we should be discussing the (huge) role that diversity plays in our country.

Lastly, I am an advocate for the environment, and I don’t like the direction that has been taken with the EPA. Climate change is a fact, and those who deny it have no place in the scientific community or the government, as we need to start making policies that address the current problem and prevent future ones. There is a limit to what the Earth can handle, and I would like to preserve the planet and quality of life for future generations.

The good of the people affects the United States as a whole. I would like to see America become great again, and I’ll fight for what I think is just, but it’s up to the current politicians as to whether that’s truly possible. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Ellie Yates

Finally Mr. President it is my turn to represent my generation. Tessa represented, the poor, the ones who benefit from various programs and rely on the programs not because her parents don’t work hard, her mother works very hard, it just is not enough. Ellie represented the democrats, her beliefs and fears about what you plan to repeal and enact instead. I represent not Christians and Republicans. We are three millennials from three different perspectives but all with fears and it is your job to do what is best so that we do not have to have these fears because this is the United States of America and WE ARE THE FUTURE

Dear Mr, President,

I voted for you, I put my trust in you. Mr. President you claim to be a Christian, yet I do not see it in your actions or speech. I see a good amount of hate. I agree with some of your policies, but many are fueled with hate. Mr. President I ask you to put down your hatred. Mr. President I beg that you would pick up, open , and read the book that you claim to believe in. It is not a book teaching hate, it teaches love, it does not teach intolerance, but tolerance, it does not teach selfishness and pride, but rather humility. Mr. President I agree in getting rid of illegal immigrants. The constitution applies to U.S. citizens and illegals are not citizens however, when you call them names and say bad things, I draw a line. Mr. President that mouth of yours is someday going to get not only you,but this country into a tight space. I pray (and I really do pray for this) that you would learn to show the love that Jesus showed, that you would act the way that the religion you claim to believe in says that you should. I pray that you lead this country down the path of good and not stray onto an a path of evil.

My family growing up was filled with republican conservative Christians, we do not apologize for who we are. We are not some family of bigots who hate everyone that is not a white conservative Christian, similar to you. We both grew up in New York, our parents worked hard, we both work hard, the difference is you were born with money. Money is too big of a concern for you. Well many worry about the policies that you will enact or the policies you will repeal(which I do worry about) I worry more about who you are as a person. Mr. Trump if you could burn down the walls surrounding you and open your eyes. I believe the policies that you repeal and the ones you enact will be what are best. A president has not stopped and opened their eyes to the world around them in a long time. Each president has been worried about their political agendas. Presidents forget who they are and they become democrat or republican. Mr. President I ask that you open your eyes. Look at the condition that this country is in. Look at the people, see them Mr.President, see them.

See us the millennials we are striving for more we are working hard we have been given fighting spirits, but frankly unless you change, unless this country changes, it does not matter. This country must become morally just. It must realize what is wrong and what is right. Personally I believe abortion is wrong it is murder. I believe that some people rely on government programs too much, but some really need them. Getting rid of them is not the answer, harder standards or a three year limit to certain benefits may be better. See we do not all grow up as millionaires, some of us need a boost, but that boost will send us shooting for the stars. I think that LGBTQ is worng but I believe in tolerance or at least the old tolerance that other views exist and accept that there are other views but I do not agree with those views. Under the constitution LGBTQ have the same rights as me, doesn’t mean I think what they do is right but they still have human rights. As a Christian I have the right to not go against my beliefs, but they have the right to be themselves. Mr. President, We are the future, we are the Christians, the conservatives, and we are AMERICAN MILLENNIALS.

Sincerely,

Jake Wicks

Mr. President we are a young people, we need help, we need guidance, and we need someone to take care of the fears that you can take care of. Bad days are going to happen, there will be things that we fear. Mr. President you have the ability to take care of fears to right the wrongs of this country and lead it down a better path. If you do not there could be serious consequences for us as United States citizens. So Mr. President as millennials we ask you to look down and see us, see our fears, and worries, and fix them. Do not say the next president can take care of it or I’ll do it tomorrow because tomorrow may be too late We are Millenials and we are the future.

Sincerely,

We the people, the millennials