President Obama and his family have gracefully led the country over the past eight years, and many of us are not ready to say goodbye. The 44th president of America and the first African American president has done a lot of things for us, despite what the #haters say.

While some choose to call him the worst, Obama has made so much progress compared to many presidents of the past. Obama is the first president to have dealt with affordable health care, thus the implementation of the affordable care act. Thanks to this, women are provided with free birth control and those in poverty have been able to live longer and have healthier lives. He took the troops out of Iraq because it was not a war worth fighting for either side. He made fuel efficiency standards more intense, which provides everyone across the country with cleaner air. Power is not given to the FDA to inspect tobacco products, so those who choose to smoke will not ruin our air more than they already are. The solar panels that Ronald Reagan took off of the White House are updated and replaced. Alongside Michelle Obama, public school nutrition was improved. In only his first year, he improved the economy by 3.5% and created 2.1 million jobs. He helped to save the jobs of GM employees and now the company is in great shape and has passed on profits to employees. Officers have been provided with more training, especially in active shooter situations. The stock market has reached record highs since Obama took office. The "No Child Left Behind" rule was finally replaced with a more effective system. Obama helped create the Sexual Assault Rights Act to protect victims of sexual assault. Gay marriage was legalized in all fifty states. Hospitals are now required to allow couples of the same sex to have visitation rights. He passed laws requiring fair payment of women. Soldiers are no longer forced to remain deployed after their enlistment date is up. Improvements were made for veterans who need mental health care. Budgets were increased for research on renewable energy. Oil consumption has decreased due to a rise in fuel economy standards.

America has been thriving for quite some time now, but there is always room for improvement. It is my hope and prayer that America will no longer be so divided because of President Elect Donald Trump. May we remember the progress made and the grace and elegance presented by the first family. We are stronger when we stand tall and stand together. Thank you for everything, Barack Obama.