Dear President Obama,

Eight graceful years and we are down to your final weeks. All I want to do is thank you.

Politics aside -- because I am no political expert -- you have been a nearly flawless leadership figure for this country.

The way you have carried yourself throughout this presidency has humanized the most distant political figure in the world. We see you playing with dogs, laughing with children, shaking hands with professional athletes, and laughing on the Ellen Degeneres show. We've even seen you featured on Saturday Night Live. In the face of so much doubt and so much fear in the age of a new type of person leading this country, I couldn't have imagined a better person (or family) to do it. You've stood taller than ever in the face of unfair criticism, and you've countered ignorance with intelligence. You opened floodgates of aspirations for dreamers everywhere, of all shapes, sizes, and colors. You made a large step for a group of people that struggles to take smaller steps every single day. I watched you on BET dancing along with the largest group of black people that have probably ever been in the White House at a single time for your Love and Happiness celebration. There are children so young now that they know nothing more than having a black president; 100 years ago, to say that vision was distant would be a massive understatement.

Politics included -- your presidency has done so many great things for many different groups of people. The economy has expanded. Unemployment has dropped. Dependence on foreign oil decreased, and gas prices went down. Over 18 million more people have health insurance. There have been no attacks by al Qaeda on US soil under you, Obama. You have strengthened the middle class and made a commitment to fighting poverty. Gay marriage has been legalized under your presidency as a result of your commitment to LGBT rights. You gave one of the kindest, most deserving women in the world the Medal of Freedom. The list goes on, but in short, you've proved a lot of people wrong.

To say I will miss life under President Barack Obama wouldn't be saying enough. You've made dreams come true and broken boundaries, and you did it all with one of the most inspirational figures for a young black woman by your side.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Obama. I will miss you as my president, but I am so happy this happened during my lifetime.