President Obama bid us a tearful goodbye last night in his Farewell Address in his hometown of Chicago.

“Seeing him give his speech in Chicago, a place he said he came to when he was still trying to figure himself out in his young twenties, and hearing him talk about small groups of people being able to make large change. It’s just beautiful,” English teacher Mr. Marshall said.

Obama thanked the audience and the American people for shaping him, keeping him going, and making him a “better man”.

“I think he was very reflective in his thoughts on how he has progressed, and also things he had tried to accomplish and things he hasn’t accomplished. I think it’s an end of an era, but it was a good ending that gave us some things to think about,” Teaching and Learning Center Director Mrs. Goldin said.

He spoke of the threats to our democracy, economic system, and social environment. Calling for wealth distribution, Obama spoke of the lower and middle class Americans that have been left behind and encouraged Americans to unify and recognize the role everyone has to play to achieve a post racial society, including the maintenance of stronger discrimination laws.

President Obama left his legacy in the hands of the American people and charged the country to continue its progress.

“I think it shows that he believes in the country, and it shows that he feels it’s not just about one president or about one congress, it’s about how everyone individually acts,” senior Luke Parker said.

Watch the full Farewell Address.