Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush penned a letter for Sasha and Malia Obama as they leave the White House after their father served as president for the past eight years.
In the note, published in Time Magazine, the Bush sisters recounted greeting the Obama girls when they first toured their new home.
They listed all of the trips Sasha and Malia have accompanied their parents on and told them to cherish the memories they’ve made as they’ve traveled around the world.
They also told the Obamas to remember the people who have helped them in the White House, including the Secret Service and other staffers.
Jenna, who’s currently a correspondent for NBC News, shared that the florist who first greeted the girls at former President George W. Bush’s inauguration did the flowers at her wedding.
“You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years,” the Bushes wrote.
They talked about watching Sasha and Malia grow from girls to “impressive young women with grace and ease.” Adding some humor into their advice, they said, “Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did.”
Jenna and Barbara told the Obama girls to make mistakes and surround themselves with loyal, protective friends. “Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight. Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter.”
They continued: “Take all that you have seen, the people you have met, the lessons you have learned, and let that help guide you in making positive change.” In their final paragraph, the Bush women said they know that President and First Lady Obama will be supporting the young ladies in this next chapter, but that they want Sasha and Malia to know they are rooting for them as well.
This article was originally published on Hollywood Reporter.
