First, and foremost, congratulations! These are just my personal thoughts. I would, however, like to hope they bring a new type of perspective to your thinking. I'm writing this to persuade you. I don't want to just change your point of view on one issue, I want to change your point of view on all of them.  Every single one.  Everyone's eyes will be on you, they expect you to make the right decision for our country.  But how can you be sure it's the right one?  By examining both sides of each issue, no matter how big or small. I believe this is the most important piece of advice any leader could have.  As president, I beg you to always remember that you can see everything in two ways.

Let’s start with the more localized topics and work our way to the more world-wide ones.  We have much, much better educational opportunities than many other countries in the world.  However, I believe that in a country so blessed, there shouldn’t be any reason why we shouldn’t have one of the best educational ranks in the world.  Students just aren’t very motivated.  There are many reasons for this.  School isn’t very appealing to many students.  They don’t relate very well to the material, and become bored and frustrated.  Many parents aren’t very strict on their children’s school grades, another big issue.  Students are also busier today than ever, between school, sports, work and trying to get some family and friend time.  College is over the top expensive, and that is very discouraging.  The teachers in my school district are vastly underpaid.  They are teaching the future of America, who will be taking care of you someday.  Shouldn’t that be worth a little more money?  It gets very hot in Missouri during school, and we do not have air conditioning.  Even our prisons have air conditioning!  The overwhelming heat definitely makes it harder to focus.  How do we increase the functionality of our schools without causing them to limit their already overly tight budgets to the breaking point?  There are solutions to our problems, take my high school for example.  Our school implemented a new program this past year, where during study hall every other day students had to read.  A few months later,  I was amazed to pass some of my not-so-school loving classmates in the hall and hear them discussing books!  This program was not only free to setup, it also had very effective results.  It just goes to show that you can fix both sides of an issue and make everyone happy.  How can you apply this to other issues?

Our economy also seems to be in a bit of trouble right now.  The prices of everything are increasing, from gas to milk.  It hurts a lot to see my parents stress and worry about money.  I feel like there is nothing I can do to help.  Feeling helpless is not fun.  Our country has many things going for it! I believe we have very good religious tolerance, certainly better than almost any other nation.  I am also very proud of our country doing better “going green”.  "Green" certainly has swept from coast to coast these past few years, and you get to be the president right in the transition!  How exciting to be part of such a big change.  Some citizens want all change, some don't want any at all.  How can you take each of their arguments and combine them to make one all-powerful decision?  I am not a vegetarian or activist or anything, but you are not just the president of the people, but of everything in our country, even animals.  They don’t have any power or even a voice.  You do.  Just think of those instantly-heart melting ASPCA commercials.  How can you protect our wildlife, but feed our growing need for elbow room?

This modus operandi can be applied to any issue.  For example, from what I’ve heard, America is not too popular in other parts of the world.  What can you do to help increase our popularity?  Why do other citizens of the world hate us so much?  After all, we all live under the same sun.  We just happen to get more of it than other countries, and they resent us for not sharing it, as they should.  America citizens need to be more giving.   Our country is currently one of the strongest powers in the world.  What would happen if we were to lose that power?  Other countries would remember that we didn't help them when they where down.  Others also don't approve of our religious freedom.  It is my personal belief that this fighting will never cease.  Remember that just as much as you know in your heart that your views and opinions are right, others do too.  Studies show that many foreigners do not hate the actual American people as a mass, but our government and political leaders.  Before you make an international decision, think of everybody who it affects.  Predict any problems with it, and pre-plan a solution.  Our country has pride, and that is a good thing. However, when we make mistakes we need to apologize for it and make it right.  One blogger on the internet said, "People don't sacrifice themselves for no reason. Let's find out what it is. And if we did something wrong (no doubt we did) let's apologize, ask for forgiveness, and then ask how we can do better."  This blogger has a perfect point.  People don't just kill themselves for any reason.  They must truly believe in their cause.  Your job is to figure out why, and how it applies to America.  What is their side of the story?  There is also turmoil in our country. Americans aren't as patriotic as they used to be.  The most recent big increase in patriotism was after the attack on the Twin Towers.  How can we make America a place that it's citizens are proud to live in?  How can we increase patriotism without there being a national disaster? You are ultimately the only one standing between my loved ones and the enemy.  But don’t ever forget, they may have loved ones too.  Do what is right, even if it’s not the most popular thing.  Don’t be afraid to stand up for justice and be the unsung hero.

The truth is Mr. President, you need to be the ringleader and the tightrope walker.  Be the leader and the balanced decision maker. See the view from the people’s point of view, and from the high, all-seeing altitude.  Always consider both views of each arising challenge. The question is, how will you walk the tightrope, that fine line?