Tuesday, November 4th: I Voted

I woke up pretty early on Tuesday after my trip to Vegas. It was Election Day, and unliked most of the rest of Iowa, I opted to vote on this day itself, not necessarily early. This would be my first time that I have ever voted in general, let alone the presidential election.

I left Coe around 8:30 am, and walked to the voting station. Much to my surprise, there was no line!! I don't know if THAT many people voted early, or if everyone was just at work... but at the time, I didn't mind, so long as I got my vote in.

I'm not offended to say who I voted for. I'll admit: I voted for Obama. I was a great Hillary supporter, and even though she didn't win, I was still for Obama over McCain/Palin ticket. What truly won me over was Biden; my dream ticket would have been Clinton/Biden, but this worked out really well!

Anyway, here's a snapshot of election night:

All night, people around me were tense with excitement. I had to work at telecounseling RIGHT when the first polls on the east coast began to close. We immediately put CNN on the computers at work, and watched the projections live. As soon as work was over, I rushed to my apartment to watch the rest of the projections. As I entered the apartment, I looked at the TV: Obama had won Ohio!!! I was so excited and immediately text my roommate, Jeanice, who was at work, but I knew wanted to know what was going on. About a half an hour later, she burst through the door with an excited look on her face. "When you text me that Obama had won Ohio....!!!" She couldn't even finish her sentence, she was so ecstatic!

10:00 came, and I was staring at the screen as my roommates rummaged through the fridge in the kitchen. Another projection came on.

"Oh, look," I said. "Another projection, and it goes to Obama."

"Who is it for?" one of my roommate asked.

I looked. Something was different. I blinked.

And then I jumped up. "OH MY GOD!" I shouted. "HE WON!!!"

"He WHAT?!?!?!"

There was running into the living room as we crowded around the screen. There is was: Obama, President-Elect.

We began to cheer. Cell phones were ringing off the hook as friends and family called each other to announce the news, to offer congratulations to each other. I called my grandmother and my 'big brother' and many other close people, shouting "Happy President!" At one point, during a conversation, I heard noises.

"Do you hear that?" I asked my roommates.

"What?" they asked.

I shushed them, and we listened. There were cheers outside. Students had rushed out to the quad and were cheering at the top of their lungs. The apartment ceilings and walls were shaking with people jumping up and down. A few minutes later and group of girls passed right by our windows, singing, "Party like Barack-Star! Party like Barack-Star!!"

It was truly... TRULY... a special night! I've seen many students get excited over silly things. But that night was truly a very American=spirited night. There is such a stereotype of our generation not caring, not doing anything about our potential leadership; but I felt Coe became very involved. I can't tell you the numerous conversations I've had with people regarding issues and politics in every aspect. I was so proud that so many of us had worked to make a difference that night, and were proud for doing so.