Inauguration Reflections

We asked students for their impression of President Barack Obama's Inauguration.

The following is a collection of those reflections.

Inauguration

At the inauguration I got to see the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swear Obama in. I saw George Bush moving out! I felt awesome. - Cassidy (age 11)

I think the President will stop the war. -Kira (age 6)

Some parts of the inauguration were boring, like the limo drive there. I liked it when Obama was sworn in. The inauguration was shorter than I expected. I thought it would be 12 hours long. - Tayler (age 14)

First of all when Obama came through the doors, he looked so proud. It made me so proud of him. When my mom told me that Obama gets a chauffeur, a limo and an airplane, I wanted to be the president. - Ana (age 6)

At the Inauguration I saw a lot of people around the mall. I also heard Obama's speech. I felt good. I thought that Obama's speech was good and that he spoke up for himself. I also noticed that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court messed up and that made Obama mess up and then he had to restart his sentence. - Tera (age 8)

The President's horn players played beautiful. - Nyah (age 6)

I saw Barak Obama give his speech. I saw Biden and Obama giving the oath. I heard music by Yo Yo Ma. I hear a poem by Mrs. Elizabeth. I thought that the speech was strong and sweet. I also thought to myself during the speech, "I think we can leave the country in his hand," and hopefully that will be true. I feel that Obama will lead us to a bright future for the US. - Gwen (age 11)

At the inauguration I saw the mall with lots of people. I heard Obama's speech. I also heard the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court swear Obama in as President. I felt awesome, fabulous, great, amazed and incredible! I thought it was awesome when Obama gave his first speech as president. - Shem (age 10)

I hope Barack Obama will succeed to make Peace. -Cora (age 8)

The old President left. - Nora (age 6)

The President is the first President to be black. - Eden (age 5)

I saw the mall with all the people in it and Obama's speech. I felt really happy because history was just made and Obama made one of Martin Luther King Jr's dreams come true. It was exciting for me and everyone else. - Nora (age 11)

I think that President Obama will be a great President. I feel that he wants change instead of war. At the Inauguration yesterday I saw President Obama give a speech. I like how he talked about the good and bad things going on. - Noah (age 12)

President Barack Hussein Obama

It's like "Bambi"
Everyone‘s excited
the new prince is being born
A new country is being born
everybody knows
It's a new start,
a reason to say the "Pledge of Allegiance"
A reason to honor our country,
as ours
People cry for joy
The new prince is being born
Everyone is hopeful
Barack Obama
the new prince
America's savior

By Jana (age 12)

Change

In one respect, I wish that I was one of the sea of two million people watching the memorable inauguration of Barack Obama, forty-fourth president of the United States. It would have been amazing to say that you were there to see the swearing in of the first African American president. It would have been so chaotic, but at the same time, peaceful, to be one in a crowd that large, exhilarating to stand along the Washington mall, clapping and cheering.

But sitting on a couch, watching the inauguration on CNN, was probably even better. I had an easy view of the TV screen. There were no people standing in front of me, blocking my field of vision. I could easily hear the inauguration speech, (even though I had to put up with several choruses of "I've got a crush on Obama" afterward). I was perfectly comfortable in a warm room, while the people on the TV screen were standing in twenty eight degree weather.

I thoroughly enjoyed President Obama's speech. Listening to the words, you could tell that he knows what he needs to do, and is sure of his abilities. He spoke about the Founding Fathers of the United States, who fought long and hard to start a country of hope and freedom. He thanked ex-president Bush Jr. for his service to the country, but at the same time mentioned that "our nation is at war, our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age." He is saying that while a large part of the problem was created by "the powers that be", but it is the duty of the American people to roll up our sleeves and get to work. That is one thing that I admire about Obama. He is honest. He does not lead the country into thinking that he can fix every problem by himself. As a nation, we need to work together.

As a whole, I think that Obama will be one of the best presidents this country has seen. Sure, I don't believe in or support every decision he has talked about making, but I do believe that he is working and thinking beyond greed. I believe in the fact that we now have a president that is actually pleasant to listen to. I believe that, with everyone's help, we can solve a lot of problems. I believe this nation is going to be seeing a lot of Change.

By Ian (age 14)

Hope for Better

As the swearing in of the now President Barack Obama went on I had a happy feeling surrounding me. Not only because I had drunk a full mug of hot chocolate and that I was all sugared up mostly because we wouldn't have a crappy President for (hopefully) eight full years.

All he said in the speech I found a lot of promise and also hope in his words. I like how he says that we have to all participate in helping our country and we are all going to roll our sleeves up and work instead of being a couch potato. (this is in my own words) I also like Obama because he is great at speaking and makes it so people understand him. He gives them eye contact and makes them feel good for choosing the best candidate.
-Mac (age 11)

Massive
All races and colors
May gather
At this place
Hope for the country is reborn
Into your hands
Taking your place
To the rightful thrown
The hate and agony
Created for so many years
By the wrong man
But today the light of hope
Can shine just brighter
As we gather
Wind is still
All are quiet
As you speak your words of truth
Promises
Said to be fulfilled
Our trust is in you
To banish the storms and winds
Of America
So that one day
W can once again hold our heads high
And be proud to be Americans

-Autumn (age 13)