Barack Obama was inaugurated into office and is now the first black President of the United States of America. I am so excited to see Dubbya gone, and I’m ecstatic that we won’t ever have to deal with his shenanigans again.

I’ve never been one for politics. I’ve never been interested in the election, and I’ve never watched any of the inauguration coverage. I’ll be honest – I still have never voted, but this whole experience has made me want to be a smarter about and more involved in the politics and the happenings around the world and within our country and government.

Today, I made sure to be home to watch the inauguration. Right now, as I write this, I’m watching the coverage of the inauguration celebrations and having a little celebration of my own. I have chills and goosebumps and a permanent smile plastered on my face. It’s a great feeling. I feel like a citizen of a united country with real potential now, instead of a hellish mass of depression and fighting and idiots.

I have never been so proud to be an American as I am today – I’m even more excited than I was on election day, which is hard to compare to.

I have high hopes for President Obama and our country in the next four years. I hope, more than anything, that he is able to keep his word and turn everything around for us. I know that it will take time – I’m willing to wait, as long as the progress is actually being made. I also know that it is our responsibility as a country to help. We have to be the change we want to make, and I really think we can.