Mr. Obama took time to attend his daughter Malia's high school graduation at the private Sidwell Friends school.

US President Obama and his eldest daughter Malia. Photo: CNN.

According to CNN, Malia's graduation on June 10 was an important milestone for the Obama family. Malia's graduation coincided with her younger sister Sasha's 15th birthday. The US President, the First Lady, and Sasha also attended Malia's graduation. When Mr. Obama entered the White House, Malia was only 10 years old.

The US president refused to speak at his daughter's graduation ceremony, saying he was too emotional. To maintain privacy, the White House banned all photos of the US president crying, like many other fathers. "I'll be sitting there with my sunglasses on, sobbing," Mr. Obama said on a television program earlier this year.

"Malia is my best friend, it will be difficult for me not to have my daughter by my side. But she is ready to walk on her own path. Malia is a smart, capable girl," the US president said about his daughter. Malia was accepted to the prestigious Harvard University in 2017. Mr. Obama once joked that he did not have much say in his daughter's choice.

Malia decided to take a year off to gain more experience before starting her life as a Harvard University student. The Obamas' eldest daughter's plans for the next 12 months are kept strictly secret by the White House.

During his recent visit to Vietnam, Mr. Obama said in Ho Chi Minh City: "She doesn't listen to me, anything I say. If you want to invite Malia to Vietnam, maybe you should talk to her, not me." Mr. Obama is a person who loves to be close to his children. During his term as president, he always had dinner with his family no matter how busy he was.

When the Obamas traveled to Chicago and San Francisco, photographers captured Malia laughing and joking with her father. Obama was too busy to teach his daughter how to drive, so the White House Secret Service did the job.

He attended the annual parent-teacher conference at Sidwell Friends School, occasionally attended dances and basketball games. Malia's Spanish studies came in handy when Obama traveled to Cuba, where she translated for her father at dinner in Havana.

Although Malia's future plans are kept private, the Obamas have spoken of their eldest daughter's interest in filmmaking. Malia has completed short-term television internships in New York and Los Angeles.

"I think Malia is very eager to get out of the White House," Obama said. Malia will be the first person in the Obama family to leave the White House. Obama also moved to the mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue when his term officially ended in early 2017. The Obama family decided to stay in Washington until Sasha finished high school.

According to VNE