The time has come that Americans say goodbye. The cameras are rolling and broadcasting onto multiple different channels like CNN. Millions of Americans turn on their TVs and prepare to watch the goodbyes. Before he comes on stage to speak to the 8.9 million viewers, President Barack Obama reads through his speech one more time and prepares for what is to come. Some will cry, and some will smile, but just what was said?  

On the 10th of January, President Barack Obama said his final goodbyes a few days before ending his term as the 44th President of The United States. His farewell address was given in Chicago at 9pm EST in the same place he declared his victory in the 2008 and 2012 elections. The speech ended up being around fifty minutes, and it was packed with information from reflecting on America’s accomplishments to all the thank-yous.

“If I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, take out the mastermind of 9/11. That we would win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens if I had told you all that, you might have said our sights were set a little too high. But that’s what we did,” Obama declared. He went on to show how much change America has experienced in these past eight years of his presidency even though it was previously deemed impossible.

He went on to talk about goals for the future, such as guaranteeing all children education, better work wages, update the social safety net, uphold laws combating discrimination and making more reforms to the tax code. President-elect Trump now faces the decision on whether or not he should focus on these goals or on his own.

Some believe he will, while others have lost complete faith in our country. Wiktoria Zysk, a politics enthusiast said, “Personally, I don’t think Trump will listen because he has his own goals for America he wants to accomplish. But then again, he might surprise us and might continue Obama’s legacy.”

The speech highlighted the fact that there is still a lot of work to be done in America. Taliyah, a sophomore, said, “There are so many people who are against minorities, gay people, or muslim people. Obama was very clear that all Americans should work on fixing this country.” These issues vary from only accepting information we want to hear, the continuity of racism through stereotypes, the issue of climate change, and much more.

When asked what should have been added to the address that wasn’t mentioned Desaun Slocombe-Robinson, who watched the speech as it was broadcasted, said, “I wish Obama would have addressed what the next four years will be like and what Trump plans to do.”

On the other hand, Kezia Dickson, who also watched the speech, said, “I don’t think that there was anything I would change. The one thing I thought about was for him to address the protesters, but I think he did that in a way that was so poetic and beautiful so I wouldn’t change anything about the speech.”

Towards the end of the speech, Obama thanked his wife, Michelle Obama, and his two daughters, Malia and Sasha. Mentioning how proud he was of his family, specifically his wife’s role as First Lady, and how his daughters have become amazing young women. He then thanked his Vice President Joe Biden and staff, saying how thankful he is for them.

The speech was concluded on the note of believing in America’s future, saying, “I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring out change-but in yours.”