Harlem School Kids Write Letters to Barack Obama

After Barack Obama's election, the teachers at Alain L. Locke public school in Harlem, N.Y., asked their third, fourth and fifth graders to write letters to the president-elect. Each classroom voted on their favorite letter, published here.

Dear President Obama,
I would like to congratulate you on your great success. I also want to let you know that you have made all of my dreams a bit easier for me to reach. By your great accomplishment, that makes me want to strive for greatness.

I was wondering, how does it feel to be the first black president? I also wanted to ask about the economy. Will there be any funding for college when I become of age? Will it be affordable for me and my family?

Sincerely,
Lizette McIlwain
Grade 5

Dear President Obama,
I wish you a beautiful life in the White House. I wish that you will be the best president of all. I wish for you to stop the war. And help the poor people to get jobs. I wish that you will be able to help immigrants get papers to come to our country. I know that people are hoping for you to be the best president and to make a better future. I congratulate you.

Yours Truly,
Jowana Melendez
Grade 3

Dear President Obama,
I am so happy that you are becoming president. How does it feel to be the first black president of the United States? I know that you're going to do a beautiful job. When my family and school heard that you were president everybody was screaming. I was so proud of you. I almost broke into tears. Now that you are president of the United States I know you're going to make our nation and community a better place to live in.

Yours Truly,
Mariama Seck
Grade 3

Dear Barack Obama,
My name is Jessica Collado. I live in New York City. I go to Alain L. Lock Elementary School in Manhattan. I feel you have many plans and many ideas to improve the world. Another thing is that you want to improve education for future kids. For example, you want to make college affordable for all kids so they won't have to pay a lot of money. President Obama, you will make big changes. You believe that all the money that we are wasting in Iraq could be spent on reasonable stuff like new supplies for schools, new programs and technology. You want to cut taxes for people who earn less than $250,000 a year. You are so strong and intelligent. You are going to be the best president ever!

Sincerely,
Jessica Collado
Grade 5

Dear President Obama,
Congratulations on winning the election for president of the United States of America. I was so happy that history was made. Not so many times you wake up with an African-American president. My family, friends and teachers were so happy and my principal cried.

President Obama, you encourage me and all of America to follow their dreams. We could be anything. You opened a door to everyone.

President Obama, may you please try to come up with new ways to help homeless people? I wish you and your family lots and lots of luck. I promise to follow you and Joe Biden's rules.

Thank you for listening to me. We trust you as president. President Obama, I believe, no, I know you'll make a change.

Love,
Mohamed Bamba
Grade 5

Dear President Barack Obama,
I would like to congratulate you for becoming the first black president of the United States of America. I wanted you to be president because of change and I don't mean change like money.

We had a mock election at our school and you won because everyone at A.L.L. PS.208 voted for you and that's change for me.

President Obama, can you stop the violence in our streets?

Please enjoy your time as president of the United States.

All the best,
Kris Alvarez
Grade 4

Dear Barack Obama,
When you were elected to be the 44th president, and first African-American president, I was enthusiastic!!! I was jumping around, and dancing saying, "Oh yeah, oh yeah."

I think your changes will be the greatest thing that happened in the USA. That's my opinion because change is the greatest thing in the world! I'm still wondering what changes you're going to make.

I really, really hope you and your family stay safe. I hope you and your family have a really fun and exciting life in the White House. I hope your children have a great educational experience at their new school too.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Miranda
Grade 4

Dear President Obama,
Hi my name is Reuben Petrus and I go to school at A.L.L. P.S. 208 Elementary School. I think it is a great school. Also, I am happy that we get all of the opportunities that we get. I think that all of the opportunities that we have recieved would hardly match up to you coming to our school and in our class.

When I found out you were President of the United States of America, I was so enthusiastic! When I was informed I was at my mom's house. I was so happy I jumped off the walls and off my bed. I felt like I drank twenty cans of Pepsi and Coke in one gulp. I wonder if you will ever help us have a better school.

I can tell that you will have the eye of the tiger when you are officially President. Mr. President, you have to be on the ball when you make changes for the greater good. I think you can do this with ease if you focus on your task and do the best you can. I realize that you have the potential to be the best president ever.

Your election has changed my hopes and dreams because when you were elected that made me think that a black man can do anything if he believes. Also, that tells me that you have raised the bar for Americans all around the United States of America. I have a dream that you will help all the poor people on the street, on the train and in the train station. Actually, all around the United States.

Good Luck,
Reuben Petrus
Grade 5

Dear President Obama,
It is an honor to have you as President; you are an inspiration to me. I know you will make a good President. You could just imagine me and my family's faces when we found out you were elected president, I was astonished and excited! You're very important to our world and my community. You taught me I can be anything I want.

President Obama, how does it feel to be President of the United States? You have the ability and power to change the world. I can't wait to see all your changes and good deeds. Hopefully they will make all the hate and anger go away throughout our nation.

Here are a few things I was hoping you would address. There should be no pollution. Just imagine what it will be like to grow up in a clean world, filled with fresh air. Also, President Obama, I recommend that you lower prices of things in stores to less. My life will change with you as president because I won't have to live with pollution, and with hate, I will be happy when you make your changes.

Sincerely,
Amber E. Harrison
Grade 4

Dear President Obama,
When my family found out you were elected president, we were jumping like kangaroos. I would like for you to bring the people from war back home to their family. I would like for you to give poor people a place to live where they can stay until they can be responsible enough to get a job and take care of themselves. I hope your family enjoys being in the history of the White House. Congratulations on being the president of the United States. I also thank you for running to become our president. I appreciate that.

Love,
Ke-yara Greene
Grade 3

Dear Barack Obama,
This is a proud moment in time for everyone in the world. We are so happy that you are president of the United States.

Our class is proud to be a part of this generation to see how Dr. Martin Luther King's dream has come true through you. We believe in you.

Sincerely,
Tarrance Thompson
Grade 4

Special thanks to Principal Susan Green and all the teachers at P.S. 208.