Barack Obama has officially left office. That is a fact, though it may take a bit for reality to set in. After eight years in the White House, Obama has relinquished his position as President of the United States to Donald Trump.

For many Niles North students, it is hard to remember a time in which Obama was not president. Elected in 2008, Obama lead the nation as we grew from children to teenagers, and will be forever linked to our youth. Now, as Obama has finished his 8 years, is an appropriate time to look back and reflect on Obama’s two terms, and think about how he has impacted America and its people, and how his legacy will continue to shape our country. So with that being said, here are some opinions from fellow Niles North students on Obama and his legacy.

Will Angulo (Sophomore): “I feel overall, Obama is the “GOAT”, he was lust laid back and relaxed, and all politics aside, he just seemed like a good guy, something that we can’t say about all presidents.”

Andre Patt (Sophomore): “It was a good feeling knowing the president had integrity and was respected, and he will be missed”

Adriana Oh (Junior): “Obama has been president for more than half my childhood, and he’s been this kind of constant throughout my life. It’s going to be weird to not have him in office.”

Bryson Jordan (Freshman): “I feel he was one of the better president’s in the United States history so far, and coming out of office has been a big thing to deal with emotional, because of who’s been elected as President now

Jay Patel (Sophomore): “Obama was my boy, it was so cool because I felt like he cared about hip-hop and other things that interest me, so he was really relatable for me.”

While many students looked back on Obama’s tenure positively, other students offered opinions that were more critical of Obama.

Masood Abbasi (Senior): “Astonishingly mediocre. Overrated by many as well.”

Kayla Stein (Sophomore): “I think he was definitely a good person, and he was socially exerted and that was great, but the things that he tried to do didn’t necessarily help the people of the United States and the people he was trying to reach.”

Whether you agree or disagree with Barack Obama’s political stances or the action he took while in office, there can be no doubt that his term was historic. For a biracial man born to a single mother in Honululu, Hawaii, attaining the presidency is surely an accomplishment, and is emblematic of the changes that our country has gone through in terms of racial acceptance.

Featured image credits to Rolling Stone