On Feb. 1, Hillary Clinton officially stepped down from one of the most successful stints as secretary of state in American history. She leaves her reign as the chief U.S. ambassador to the world and as one of the most popular figures in the country, with an approval rating of 69 percent in January. 

She has been called “the most powerful woman in American history” by news outlets such as “Newsweek” and has been urged by many in the Democratic Party to run for the party’s nomination in 2016. There are those who say she would be unbeatable against a Republican opponent. As of right now though, she publicly says she has no intentions to run for president, but the speculation remains. 

Though I have always been a Hillary fan (and a Bill fan for that matter), I don’t believe she should run.

Over the past four years, Clinton has traveled 956,733 miles, visited 112 countries and has spent a total of 87 days travelling across the globe representing the United States. 

The jet lag has taken a toll on Mrs. Clinton. Though she was secretary of state for four years, she looks as if she has aged 10 since her days as a candidate. Her health is not what it was back in 2008, when she ran for president, and what it would have to be in 2016 if she were to run at age 69. John McCain was scrutinized in 2008 for his age and his past bouts with skin cancer. Clinton, who has had health problems in recent months, would face that same scrutiny and probably even more because she is a woman.

The Democratic Party and the national media that is urging her to run in 2016 is the same Democratic Party and national media that turned on her and Bill during the 2008 primary season. Many in the party and media called her and her husband closeted racists and accused them of race baiting white Democratic voters in states such as Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky. 

They turned their backs on the Clintons to a young new up-and-comer: Barack Obama. Now, in 2016, with an aging Democratic field and a fresh, young Republican field, the party has no choice but to turn to Clinton to continue its electoral success, but Clinton should say “Thanks, but no thanks.”

It’s time for Clinton to retire and enjoy life with Bill and daughter, Chelsea. She should retire to her suburban New York home, read a few books, write a memoir, do a speaking engagement here or there and finally enjoy life after over 20 years in the political spotlight. 

She could use her status as one of the most admired women in the world to champion the causes she cares about, such as global women’s rights. She shouldn’t waste the political capital she has earned during her four years as secretary of state running for president. She should use it to truly make a difference. 

Hillary Clinton has some remarkable accomplishments in her career: attorney, Wal-Mart board member, U.S. senator and secretary of state. Though she always wanted to be president, her time to run was in 2008, and, unfortunately, the Democratic Party chose the future over the past.

She’s changed American political landscape for the better, and she should be proud of that. She broke the glass ceiling for all present and future female candidates, but now’s the time for Hillary to move on and for her to finally focus on Hillary. 

Cody Williams,

freshman in Business