It was a Tuesday night in November 2008. I was sitting in my living room anxiously watching MSNBC for the election results. There was tremendous excitement in my house. My whole family, sitting in our small living room, crowded on the couches intently watching the polls. It was Election Day and for my family, this was Superbowl equivalent. We stayed up all night waiting for the results, flipped the channels back and forth, listened to corny political jokes, and had thoughts run wild in my head. What would it be like to have someone like me running the country?
My family had been strong Obama supporters, my grandpa especially. I remember being bored to death while watching the 2004 Democratic National Convention when my grandpa first introduced me to Barack Obama. We had signs in our yard, bumper stickers, pens, and t-shirts. You name it, we had it. Voting was not common in my household. My uncle, who was 55, casted his very first vote that year. My mom, who had no care in the world for politics, all of sudden had immense interest in it. I was young a middle-schooler who had no idea about politics but started to bond with my grandpa over news shows and politicians.
All of sudden, it was quiet. I looked at everyone around, absorbing their emotions. When I looked at my grandparents and saw silent tears run down their faces, I knew that seeing Obama's name flash across the screen was their break through. My grandparents grew up in a small town in Virginia. Following the Great Depression, they witnessed racism and discrimination first hand. Sending their kids to integrated schools was scary for them and now they sit under a Black, biracial leader. They never thought that this would happen in the United States. In my house hold I heard the same saying -- “I hope I live to see a Black president” -- over and over again, and their wish came true.
Three o’clock in the morning rolled around, and I finally went to bed. It was still quiet. We were surprised, but we were excited to see what the next four years had in store. I will never forget the overwhelming feeling when Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States. History was not only made in America, but in my house as well. It was a night I will truly never forget.
If anyone knows me, they know that I love politics. The 2008 election inspired me to pursue a career in political science. Learning about the different aspects of politics and current events intrigued me. That election encouraged me to stay informed about current issues and policies that were shaping our country. After that I began to get involved in political campaigns and helping out with elections as much as possible. Who knew that a presidential election could spark a flame and ignite my future career choice?
