This story originally ran on Motto.
Sometimes, kids just know best.
An 8-year-old girl named Lily recently wrote a letter to President Obama informing him that “this country needs more spunk.” President Obama agreed with Lily enough to respond to her.
Lily, whose father is in the Air Force, had some impressive demands for President Obama. As an extremely well-informed pre-pre-teen, she wrote, “With all the attacks, the Zika virus, and the wars, this country is a very sad place. Please do something fun. Wear a tie-dye shirt and shorts to something important.” The next state dinner, perhaps?
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Other suggestions from Lily to President Obama include taking his family to Disney World and going on a water skiing trip in the Caribbean. Lily’s requests for Obama and his family to “do something fun” also include helping others stay relaxed. She adds, “Also, please say something that will make everyone calm. You do know know how many politics worries I have.”
President Obama has inspired Lily enough to want to pursue politics. She said she was President Obama’s “biggest fan” and she already knows that her “back up job” is to be President. Her first choice? Cardiovascular surgeon.
In his response, President Obama took Lily’s request for “more spunk” to heart. He told her, “I can tell you’ve got plenty of spunk to help keep our Nation strong!” He continued, “As long as I serve in this Office and beyond, I’ll continue fighting to ensure kids all across our country are limited by nothing but the scope of their imaginations and the size of their dreams.”
President Obama may continue to fight to ensure kids can achieve their dream, but we definitely can’t expect a tie-dye shirt anytime soon.
Read the rest of Lily and President Obama’s correspondence here.