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7-Year-Old Tells Hillary Clinton She Wants to Change Her Name From Lilly to Lillary

2 minute read

A 7-year-old girl has been so inspired by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, she told her mom she wants to change her name from “Lilly” to “Lillary” so she can someday run for president, too.

Lilly’s mom, Jennifer Rosen-Heinz, wrote in to the Clinton campaign to share this story, not expecting any word back. But a letter recently arrived in the mail addressed to her daughter. Rosen-Heinz shared a photo of the letter on Facebook:

Dear Lilly:

I received a terrific message from your mom, and was touched to learn that you want to change your name to “Lillary” so that you can be president when you grow up. I think Lilly is a great name—and I hope you know that you don’t have to change it to become president; if you dream big, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

I know that it may seem like a lot now, but as you grow and learn and search for your own place in the world, I hope you’ll consider how you can make your voice heard. Speak your mind in your classes, and at meetings once you have a job. Proudly take credit for your ideas. Have confidence in the value of your contributions. And if the space you’re in doesn’t have room for your voice, don’t be afraid to carve out a space of your own. Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give in. Don’t give up. Don’t quit — on yourself, on your dreams, on your future. You really can be anything you want to be. I may become the first woman president, but you, Lilly, could be next.

With warm wishes, I am

Sincerely yours,

Hillary

Lilly already seems to be taking that message of confidence to heart: In an interview with the Washington Post, she said, “She’s the first girl president. And I would be the second.”

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