On January 10, 2017, Barack Obama, America’s president since 2008, gave his farewell speech to the nation. His speech began with a thank you to the American people as he pointed out the positives of his administration. He reminded viewers of the increase in jobs, the death of the mastermind behind 9/11, health care reforms, marriage equality, and lower poverty rates. The President stated, “That’s what we did. That’s what you did.”

Obama also addressed the progress that has not yet been made. He argued that our economy doesn’t work as well when the 1% prosper at the expense of a growing middle class. Race relations were also discussed throughout the speech. He called for America to uphold laws against discrimination and to feel the change in our hearts. As a nation, we must support the ideals of equality and democracy. We were reminded, “We all have to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family just like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own.” Obama also addressed the nation’s fight against terrorism stating, “ISIL will be destroyed.” At the same time, Obama urged the country to reject the discrimination of Muslim-Americans as we uphold the laws of our constitution.

The former President then turned the attention to the young people, the future of America. The “unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic” young people, he said, hold the future in good hands. Finally, Barack Obama ended his speech with this send off: “My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won’t stop; in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain. For now, whether you’re young or young at heart, I do have one final question to ask of you as your president – the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago. I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours. I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written: Yes We Can. Yes We Did. Yes We Can. Thank you. God bless you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.”

As America moves on with a new president, we must remember these words and stand together as a nation.