I’m fully aware that this country is deeply divided in their views of President Joe Biden. As a millennial voter and progressive Democrat, I’ve certainly been unsatisfied at times with the president’s performance. In recent weeks, I’ve felt some bitterness toward the president for continuing his campaign despite the many glaring signs that he is simply not fit to serve another four years. All of that bitterness dissipated for me on Wednesday night, when President Biden addressed his decision to step down with the American people.

That decision capped off a four-year term that I believe cements Biden’s presidency as the greatest I’ve seen in my relatively short lifetime. Biden ushered us out of the pandemic — always the adult in the room and always heeding the advice of experts in medicine, public health and public administration. However ugly, Biden ended our invasion of Afghanistan and brought our nation to a place of peace. He has deftly managed two exceptionally challenging and horrifying foreign policy crises in Ukraine and Gaza, preaching patience, limited intervention and a steady hand.

Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson, who has immediately distinguished herself as an exceptional justice, to the U.S. Supreme Court. He is the first president to take on serious climate action for the benefit of future generations of Americans. More work is needed on this front, but he certainly kicked in the door. Biden passed an historic infrastructure bill with bipartisan support. He nearly accomplished a similar feat with House Republicans on border security and immigration reform, though Donald Trump killed this bill for political gain as it approached the finish line.

Perhaps most impressive, Biden chose to forever remain a one term president, putting his country over his ambition and pride. He fought it, but ultimately recognized that it was time to pass the torch to a new generation. His choice to endorse Kamala Harris after the conclusion of the Republican National Convention demonstrated that while Biden can no longer inspire confidence in public engagements, he is still the political master of our time.

Biden accomplished more in four years than most presidents do in eight. He served this country with dignity and respect. Fiercely ambitious, he put his personal desires aside to allow our nation to continue to prosper in his wake. While Biden’s time is rightfully coming to a close, it is with a heavy heart that I wish him farewell. I strongly believe that history will remember Biden as one of our country’s greatest presidents and also as a historically great American.

Thank you, Joe. You’ve made us all exceptionally proud to be Americans. You’ve ushered us toward a brighter, more equitable and more sustainable future. Most importantly, you’ve set a shining example for what public service can and should look like in this strange and chaotic time.

Tom Teixeira is an English teacher and track and field coach. He lives in Salem with his wife and two daughters.