There's a softer side to the former President! In a heartfelt interview, Barack Obama shared what it was really like dropping his 19-year-old daughter, Malia, off at Harvard for her freshman year back in August. Fans were genuinely surprised by how emotional he got when talking about this major life milestone. Stick around to hear what he had to say!

Life Lessons From the Obama Household

This wasn't the first time the 56-year-old opened up about the bittersweet experience of sending kids off to college. In an earlier interview, President Obama admitted, "It doesn’t make sense. My wife, Michelle, and I are way too young to be dealing with daughters who are almost in college. As a parent, I’m a little freaked out." Malia decided to take a gap year before starting her journey at Harvard—a choice that the university actually encourages. It’s clear that even the Obamas experience the same mix of excitement and anxiety that every parent feels during this transition.

The Challenges of Campus Life

Life hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Malia at Harvard, especially given her celebrity status. Back in August, TMZ reported an incident where a fan approached her at a salad shop and asked for a photo. After politely declining, the woman waited outside, leading Malia to allegedly say, “Are you gonna take it in my face like an animal in a cage?” It’s moments like these that remind us how tough it can be for someone in the public eye to just live a normal life. Hopefully, things have improved since then and she’s found her groove on campus.

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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Words of Wisdom for the Next Generation

Both Barack and Michelle Obama attended Harvard, so they know firsthand what it takes to thrive there. As for their 16-year-old daughter, Sasha, will she follow in her parents' footsteps? We’ll have to wait and see. What we do know is how much President Obama values his daughters' success. Recently, he shared three key pieces of advice he gave them: "Being responsible is an enormous privilege," "There are a lot of different ways to make a contribution," and "You have to be persistent." These words resonate not just with his daughters but with anyone navigating life's challenges.