‘You Opened A Door’

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.