Dear John F. Kennedy,

Happy 100th Birthday!

By now you’re used to me in a sense using you as subject to several pieces of writing over the years. For example: I used a quote of yours to represent a quote that means a lot to me ("those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly") and I wrote to you for a scholarship essay regarding “The person I most wanted to have a day with: dead or alive”. I don’t think this piece will be my last about you; you’ve become a part of my general personality characteristic at this point.

Honestly, after my only mere 19 years of existence, I have an unorthodox but genuine personal connection you. I really don’t know why I essentially became obsessed on who you as well as your family but with the many types of addictions these days, you’re not fatal to my well-being so I’ll take it. We have some things in common; we’re both Catholics and Irish. You’re actually Irish but my hometown is the Rosemount Irish so I consider myself an honorary one in itself.

My papa once told me that he was named after your brother Robert. He was born the year Bobby was assassinated. My other uncle was named after Ronald Reagan, I don’t know why my grandparents were fascinated and attached to American politicians considering there from the Philippines but I can’t blame them. You Kennedy’s are interesting and definitely set your mark into the world.

I think the true emergence of my fascination came in my AP US History Course when my teacher displayed a picture of you. There’s no denying that you were a handsome man. It only strengthened my fondness of you that you upheld strong values and visions for our society. I'm not gonna deny you were my iPhone screen background for a significant amount of my sophomore year of high school.

I’m the type of person that when something truly captures my interest I obsessively try to digest as much of information I can about it. This caused me watch documentaries about you and your family or conspiracy theories about your untimely death even YouTube videos with anything connected to you for fun and in my free time. My own friends and family have in a sense supported me in aiding me with books for my birthday or Christmas with the subject of you or anything related to you.

With all this personal research, I should feel I know enough about you and can end this interest and focus on other things. However, I think as I get older and I’m understanding the “real adult world” more everyday, your words seem more relevant than ever.

I know you weren’t a perfect man. You made many mistakes in your political and personal life but I’ve always admired how despite it all you were an advocate for personally doing our best to help our world be at its best.

You’ve inspired many to look into themselves to see how they can be a positive change in the world and to have the courage to admit our wrongs and face overwhelming challenges despite our fears of failure.

I also admired despite the fame and depiction of your luxurious life, you still prided in the love of your family and how they were your main support.

I’m not saying that I’d ever go into public office as I have my own goals to pursue, although I guess I’m not completely opposed. But I just wanted to thank you for your legacy as a reminder to work hard and do all you can to help the world around you.

Growing up, I'd never say history was my favorite subject and I don’t think it is still but I appreciate it’s lessons. The past can show you how to succeed in the future and also to remind you that every generation has their own battles but we’ve found ways to come up on top.

A lot has changed in the span of 100 years Jack, I hope you’d be happy with just the beginning of the good changes to come.

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

Love,

Joan