A Person and a President

"Dreams of my Father" gives us a look at the life and character of Barack Obama and allows us to connect with him beyond the political domain. Barack shares his story so genuinely that anybody who reads this book can find some aspect of his life that they can relate to his or her own. His struggles with race, family, education, temptation, money, drugs and sense of self shape him into who his is today and we should be honored to have such a selfless account of our president. I was surprised at the totality of his openness; even if Barack did not remember all of the details or why something was important to him, he would still make it known to the reader. His descriptive accounts of the past painted pictures in my head as I read and I could see Barack as the human that he is instead of the politician that I saw before. From personal experience, I know that family struggles can strengthen your character in ways that only God can provide and I found myself connecting with him in his confusion and solitude. It was also very inspirational to hear that he was from such humble beginnings. It is common to hear of presidents growing up in white, middle class homes that already have their hand in politics. Just by sharing these personal experiences, he is embracing his unique character and inviting us to be a part of his new journey as our nation's leader. I am very proud to have an honest, hardworking and passionate man to represent me. If Barack Obama uses what he has learned from the past, he is capable of making wise decisions and sticking with what he believes in.