Malia Obama graduates

President Obama marked a big milestone Friday: His daughter Malia graduated from high school.

Outside of the media glare, the soon-to-be 18-year-old collected her diploma from the private Sidwell Friends School in Northwest Washington during an outdoor ceremony warmed by sunshine. Her father, mother and other relatives were on hand for the big moment. The White House barred media coverage.

Malia was 10 and longing for the puppy her father had promised when her family moved to the White House. She's grown up in the public eye ever since, getting and shedding braces, being taught how to drive by Secret Service agents and spending short stints away from her parents and sister.

Obama has said it hasn't been easy watching “one of my best friends” grow up so fast.

“I do a lot of commencements around this time of year, which I love doing, although my older daughter is graduating this week and I will not be able to handle that well,” he told donors at a New York fundraiser this week.