Reflections On A Historic First
For some, it was a feeling of possibility. For others, an all-out awakening. Politics aside, outgoing President Barack Obama’s eight years in office have impacted the way we think about opportunity. Here, members of the Jopwell community reflect on the personal impact of Barack Obama’s historic presidency.
“For me, one of the most important parts of the past eight years has been President Obama’s focus on STEM. I love seeing how passionate the President has been about science and technology when he’s interacting with kids or talking about robotics and artificial intelligence.”
— Sam Udotong
“My children, who are 11, 9, and 6, have only known a Black president. There is a beauty in seeing that diversity at the top. Seeing Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan, for example, makes them think, ‘I can be a Supreme Court justice.’ Seeing the First Lady and First Daughters, who are women of color, represent what it means to be an American family is groundbreaking too. These are examples that my children can follow. Looking back on the past eight years makes me very proud.”
— Antonio Tijerino
“Obama understands what it means to come of age in a modern America. A few years before taking office, he made his last student loan payment. Now, he’s made education more accessible by expanding Pell Grants and taking Sallie Mae out of the equation.”
– Jenna Adrian
“Obama’s presidency afforded me a deeper sense of empowerment. He has acknowledged African Americans, Latinos, the LGBTQ community, and the Native American population. That was a pivotal moment for me. As a Native American, I was part of the story. I felt that, like him, I too could come from an underrepresented community and achieve my goals.”
— Jared Dunlap
“The passing and implementation of health care reform is the first step toward the true elimination of health care disparities in our country. When you look at health care today, you think, 'This should have been the health care of yesteryear!' It’s about access to care: Instead of bringing seriously ill patients into the hospital and trying to get them out in eight days, we’re looking at preventative care, wellness, and community involvement. That will be a legacy of his.”
– Barbara Felker
“More than anything, his presidency has shifted my outlook. Seeing a person of color in a position of power made me rethink my expectations and push myself. For so long, we’ve been taught to merely survive – it’s a mindset I see in my students too. Never before did I ask myself: What does it mean to thrive?”
– Sergio Jara Arroyos
“With all the events that he’s done around women and girls of color, as well as men and boys of color, he’s definitely made the White House ‘the people’s house.’ He’s also done phenomenal things on the criminal justice front that have impacted my everyday work. This kind of change excites and inspires us as policymakers."
— Maritza Perez
This post is part of The Well’s package capturing perspectives and advice from barrier-breaking professionals in the Jopwell community. Join the conversation by sharing your tips and thoughts about going first on social, using the hashtag #CelebratingFirsts or read more here:
