Dear President Barack Obama,

When I go back to school next semester and I venture into Washington D.C., this nation's incredible, historical capital, there will be something different. It won't be in appearance or atmosphere but in who resides in the White House. Gone will be the days of your presidency, and instead, this nation will be in the era of President Donald Trump. Regardless of my thoughts on Trump, the absence of your family will be noticed.

I was only 10 years old when you were elected the 44th President of the United States. I was 10 so I couldn't vote in the 2008 election. I was 10 so the significance of your election seemed insignificant. I was 10 so I only vaguely recognized that history was being made.

As I got older and began watching your speeches I realized how incredibly passionate and full of conviction you are. I realized that you held such immense power and used it for what you always thought was the best. As I continued to get older and started to become interested in journalism I realized that you protected and respected the rights of journalists. No matter what was printed about you, you never tried to strip away the rights of the press because you realized the importance of the press. When I realized this I also realized that you hold this country and what it stands for in such an incredibly high regard and have an extraordinary amount of respect for this nation and the people who inhabit it.

Mr. President, you've protected everyone to the best of your ability. You have stood up for and supported so many minorities and you've treated these minorities with respect. And by minority, I don't just mean African Americans and Hispanics. I mean women and the LGBT community and so many others. You have made incredible strides in securing the rights of all of the people of this country and that is something that I highly commend and respect you for. You have left the people of this country inspired and impassioned

So President Obama when I return to Washington D.C. you will not be there. And if I were still 10 years old maybe this would be insignificant to me. But I am not 10 years old anymore and this greatly saddens me.

Sincerely,

A Grateful U.S. Citizen