One summer morning after my junior year of high school, I quickly pulled clothes out of my dresser as I attempted to pack my suitcase. My family stuffed our red Ford Winstar with clothes for two weeks, loaded a car top carrier with camping equipment, and drove to the east coast. While my best friend was spending her family vacation on the beach in Hawaii, I walked from Lexington to Concord, toured 4 past presidents homes, visited the grave of Paul Revere, and met our state senators, Mr.Durbin and Mr.Fitzgerald. Although I enjoyed our historic tour of the east coast, there was something appealing about those beaches in Hawaii...
One night during that vacation, we were all sitting in the hotel room eating and playing cards when my dad turned to the channel to watch the Democratic National Convention. We watched several speakers and I continuously asked my parents questions about the politicians.
"Who is he?"
"Whats her job?"
"How long is their term?"
Mr.Obama came to the lectern; I was captivated and empowered by his rhetoric. I waited until he finished to ask my father the usual list of questions. I learned Mr.Obama was running to be senator in our home state of Illinois. I was overwhelmed with a new hope for our state and our country.
Later that election season, I had the opportunity to meet Mr.Obama. He came to the local coffee shop and spoke. I didn't know he was coming until that very day. My friend had told me the junior AP History classes were going to see "some guy running for some office... Obanma... or something." I decided I had to be there. I walked into the main office and pleaded my case to see "history in the making." The assistant principle wrote me a pass to leave. I then walked downtown to see the man whom had so strongly inspired me before. Again, he evoked in me a sense of hope for the future. I took a picture with him, and I got his autograph (on the pass that excused me from class).
That year for Christmas, my dad bought me a shirt which read, "Obama 2008." Although, I won't lie, I didn't wear it much. I didn't want people to think I was crazy for thinking that a man who was the junior senator for Illinois could possibly become president. Instead, I kept my hope secretly hidden in the back corner of my dresser drawer.
One Sunday night sometime later, my dad was driving me back to college. As usual we were having a deep political conversation. He had just finished reading Mr.Obama's book, '
The Audacity of Hope.' There had been no announcement of Mr.Obama running for president in 2008, however, my dad expressed he was confident after reading Mr.Obama's book that he would be our 44th president.
As the primaries progressed, I began to see my father's prediction unfold. On election day, I took my hope out my dresser drawer. Actually, I let my little brother wear my 'Obama 2008' shirt, but I wore my "got democracy?" shirt, a gift from my mother, but still a symbol of hope and confidence in our country. I proudly cast my ballot and wore my "I voted" sticker.
Today, I watched as my dad's prediction came true. I'm glad my parents dragged me to president's homes, out to battle fields, and to every Abraham Lincoln site in the country. I'm thankful they've taken the time to answer my questions, provided the tools for me to research more, and encouraged me to be bold. Because today, I understood why the historical events which occurred were so significant. Not to mention, I knew every historical reference that Mr.Obama made.
It's easy to think that what happens in Washington DC doesn't effect us. It's easy to pretend that who's president doesn't make a difference and can't change the world, or that one vote in a state "guaranteed" to go democratic doesn't matter. I think my father and Mr.Obama would both agree though, that all of these things are significant and the worst place to keep your hope is tucked away in a dresser drawer.
-Waha
