All eyes were on us Jan. 20 as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America. This historical inauguration of our country’s first African-American president drew a crowd of more than 1 million people to Washington D.C.’s National Mall, and three Darlington students were there to see it firsthand.
Sophomore Charles King attended the event with his family. “It meant the world to me to be able to witness this historic event,” he said. “It showed me that I need to continue my education and stay on track so that one day I can stand at the Capitol and be sworn in as president. It truly opened my eyes to see what we as a people can achieve in life with hard work. President Obama is a blessing and a dream come true for so many African-American adults and kids today.”
Freshmen Marissa McKoy and Brody Gardner also made the trek to Washington.
"It was a frigid day, but people still came out in huge numbers to support our new president," McKoy said. "The most meaningful part of the ceremony was his speech. The crowd was very respectful and eagerly listened to every word. President Obama gave the world hope - hope to overcome setbacks and fears and to reach goals that many people thought we would never achieve."
And while everyone may not have been lucky enough to see it in person, Darlington certainly offered plenty of opportunities for students at all divisions to watch the inaugural events live via television and the internet.
At the Lower School, pre-first through fifth-grade classes had special lunches in their classrooms so they could watch the ceremony on their TVs and/or SMART Boards. They also participated in hands-on activities like making inaugural medallions, completing Barack Obama workbooks, and decorating Inauguration Day cookies with red, white and blue icing.
“We told our students to etch this important day in their minds and remember where they were, what they were doing and why this day was so special,” said third-grade teacher Alice Clements. “Afterward, we wrote a letter to President Obama to share with him the hopes and wishes we have for him as our new president and for the next four years.”
Fourth-grade teacher Cindy Stinson was thrilled for her students to witness history in the making. “This is one for the history books, and my students got to see it live right here in their classroom,” she said.
This fall, Stinson’s students have studied everything from the voting process to the White House – all leading up to this important day. They even wrote letters to the Obama daughters, Sasha and Malia, wishing them will in their transition to a new school and new home.
“We learned about the president and the inauguration, and Mrs. Stinson has talked to us about why this is a historic moment,” said fourth-grader Emmie Camp. “I was excited to watch it with my friends during our pizza party.”
She and classmate Farrin Mumpower were watching their first inauguration ceremony.
“I really liked hearing Mr. Obama’s speech and watching all the strings play,” Mumpower said.
Fourth-grader Garrett Miller said he liked the music, too. “It was much more exciting than I thought it would be!” he said.
Students in the Middle and Upper Schools had the opportunity to watch the ceremony during lunch on a big screen in Dodd Banquet Room. It was also showing on televisions in the Student Lounge, the McCallie-Kennedy Library, Thornwood House and in several classrooms across the campus. Additionally, in the spirit of the day, members of the Young Democrats sported Obama campaign buttons and the color blue.
“It was exciting to see students from grades 6-12 sitting together and taking in the information,” said Lisa Goldin, Middle School learning specialist. “To see students from other countries take notice of the event and activities was also an awesome experience. Our students clapped and joined in as if they were standing in the cold in Washington. While our students vary in political backgrounds, it was refreshing to see the respect that they all showed. I hope that respect for different opinions is something that we continue to convey to Darlington students and that they will carry with them long after they graduate.”
Sixth-grader Rachel Hudson said the most memorable part of the inauguration was when the camera panned to George W. Bush Jr. and the title underneath his name no longer read president, but instead said former president. “At that moment I thought to myself, ‘Wow, we have really lived out Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream. We really have an African American for president – not presidential candidate, not president-elect, but president.”
Freshman Annelise Gilmer said it gave her a rush to witness the swearing in of President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. “It was so cool to be a part of history in the making,” she said. “If I could talk to the president right now, I would commend him and his efforts to help America in this time of need. I hope he can help us out of our economic depression.”
Senior Isabel Bonnyman said she remains inspired by the new president and hopes that others will provide the support he needs to be successful in his efforts. “The inauguration was such a precious, incredible moment. I am so grateful that I am old enough to fully appreciate everything,” she said. “I hope that the American people, myself included, will give President Obama a chance. We have been so energized by his doctrine of hope and change, and I worry that we will be too impatient to see policies implemented. We must give Barack Obama a chance to prove his mettle, not getting disheartened if he shows himself human in misstep. We cannot resent him for the natural wait we must face. Barack Obama has inspired me, but nothing will happen overnight. If we expect otherwise, we are only hurting ourselves, our new president and the potential good his policies can have for our country.”
