The Queen's Chair: Dear President Barack Obama
(QM's Note: Yasir Riggins, a special needs student in my writing class at School #16 class submitted this letter as his writing sample to me. His interest and letter blew me away. This young man is smarter than everyone thought. He became one of my favorite students because he enjoyed the challenges I put to him via writing. Enjoy!)
Dear President Barack Obama:
My name is Yasir Riggins and I live in Rochester, New York. I'm eleven years old and I'm in the sixth grade. I attend John Walton Spencer School #16. I'm pretty sure my whole family voted for you. There are many problems that need to be fixed, but no one man can do them all. I think the five major problems. Number one gas prices should be lower. The price of fruit has to be raised because of gas prices being so high. The farmers have to travel lots of miles. You should drill more holes for oil so we won't have to go to war. You also should lower taxes so that people can own their houses. Maybe you should do something for the unpopular cities or towns so people would visit them. You should stop global warming: we need a healthy earth to live on.
President Obama, how did you feel when you became president? What are your current plans? How are you going to help us? What sports did you play when you were young? How did you react when you heard that you won? What do you think about The White House? What will you do to make public schools better?
Dear President Barack Obama:
My name is Yasir Riggins and I live in Rochester, New York. I'm eleven years old and I'm in the sixth grade. I attend John Walton Spencer School #16. I'm pretty sure my whole family voted for you. There are many problems that need to be fixed, but no one man can do them all. I think the five major problems. Number one gas prices should be lower. The price of fruit has to be raised because of gas prices being so high. The farmers have to travel lots of miles. You should drill more holes for oil so we won't have to go to war. You also should lower taxes so that people can own their houses. Maybe you should do something for the unpopular cities or towns so people would visit them. You should stop global warming: we need a healthy earth to live on.
President Obama, how did you feel when you became president? What are your current plans? How are you going to help us? What sports did you play when you were young? How did you react when you heard that you won? What do you think about The White House? What will you do to make public schools better?
This is a very outstanding letter. It just goes to show you that all of our youth are not stupid. They're some of us who speak with maturity and are aware of the plight of America as it stands today and are willing to bring about a change in this society.
Sister, also I noticed that this young man has a Muslim name. Next time you get the opportunity to speak with him, tell him (he may know this already) that the name Yasir means "humble and modest, the one who makes things easier" and this name seems to suit him well. You know, I hope Ebony Magazine hears about him one day!