I think back to the days when first hearing about Barack Obama.  What a funny name I thought.  However, the last 22 months have been quite a journey for both candidates and the American people.  In a time when stocks are plummeting, jobs are scarce and our economy is uncertain, Obama made promises of “Change”,change that many Americans are anxious for having dealt with 8 years under the Bush administration.  Many people took to Barack Obama (for very different reasons).  While some were on board with some of the issues he represented or vowed to changed, others didn’t mind seeing a person of color in the highest level of office.  I must admit that at 24 years of age, this was my first time voting.  I didn’t mind waiting on the long line to cast my vote as I started to think about my own future and how some of these issues could affect me.  

Watching the news coverage on the night of November 4th was very nerve wracking.  It was almost like a game of pong..the back and forth of which candidate had won which states.  When Obama became the President, I almost couldn’t believe it.  I kept feeling like it was a trick or as if some technicality would later arise.  When it finally sunk in, I was very excited.  Excitement is definitely an understatement of how I and millions of other people around the world felt.  The following days were filled with both positive and negative news briefs.  While getting ready for work this morning, the news featured a story on various country that were celebrating Obama’s win.  Kenya declared it a national holiday.  People in china danced in celebration.  Obviously there are many people upset at Obama’s win.  My friend later told me of a an article in the news in another state where a young black man was beaten by members of a white supremacy group. It is sad to hear of stories like this still taking place despite the majority of people that are elated.  

A father interviewed on the news said that he was pleased with the outcome of the election.  He stated that he told his daughter that it is now possible for a black person to be a president.  This statement was kind of funny to me because it seems like he’s always thought it was never possible.  Obama’s grandmother who died the day before the election had a great hand in raising him.  I think of how his grandmother stressed to him that he could be anything he wanted to be (maybe not particularly president).  So I ask why is it that he felt he couldn’t tell his daughter (and believe it) that she could be president one day.  I have nothing but respect and admiraton for Obama.  He is the true meaning of believing in yourself because noone else will.  

As a person of color myself, I view Obama’s election into office more of a matter of him just being better qualified.  While his opponents bashed and spoke negatively of him, he kept his composure and continued to prove that he was above childish accusations.  During the times when Palin’s daughter became pregnant and McCain was making a mockery of himself of SNL, Obama did not pounce and instead focused on his campaign and his promise of change.  

Aside from being (included but not limited to) well educated, well articulated, and composed, Obama also has a woman by his side who matches or even rivals his qualities.  She was actively involved in the campaign and definitely proved to be a woman who stood on her own two feet in spite of having Obama as her husband.  

I definitely feel confident that those who voted for Obama made a great choice.  

I hope the American people not only come together and accept this change for the better, but also take responsibility for their own lives.  We need not to expect Obama to work miracles for things that we should be handling for ourselves.  We still need to raise our children to be honorable, humble and educated young men and women.  Possessing such qualities paired with our belief in a higher power can only push us to be great men and women.

I am truly blessed to have been a part of such a monumental event in history. Those that voted, prayed for his victory and watched in awe as history was written,  are are nothing short of amazing.