How’s it goin’, Mr. President? Hope the move to your new digs is still going smooth for you and the family.
Way before November 4, anxious anticipation stretched all over us at Prairie View A&M University, more than you’d ever imagined. The night before the first day of early voting felt young. Nothing paralleled the ardency that consumed students as we restlessly waited to wake up to our moment to be a part of history. In late October we join millions of other college students to cast our own vote in such a pivotal election where potentially lay the fate of America.
Like many others, this was my very first presidential election.
We met on campus to march to the nearest election poll in expectation of voting for hope, change, and an unadulterated reality that Dr. King’s well-known dream would now manifest. While our taped mouths illustrated the university’s theme -- “No Vote No Voice,” DJ Rogers’ booming speakers blasted our message to awakening students to join what we felt was surely a celebration in history.
As we neared the polls, we removed the tape in unison,
and every single ballot cast was a symbolic scream
for the change you promised.
Our theme resonated like yours, and we felt great.
Kanye West’s Good Morning filled the streets and dormitories and pounded our message on every door: “WAKE UPPPP,” to a new ideology and approach toward governance and politics that can mend the broken system we struggled under; and “Good Morning,” to a new opportunity to be heard. Finally. Anticipation grew as more gathered. Once we began, our hopes and months of dedication to this momentous event (especially from the Alphas, Young Democrats and student government) were realized. As we neared the polls, we removed the tape in unison, and every single ballot cast was a symbolic scream for the change you promised. Our theme resonated like yours, and we felt great.
Many PV students became Obama volunteers. We knocked on doors, explained your vision and donated to your campaign online. We canvassed in the Iowa snow. We held seminars to educate others. Yet your rally in Houston clinched my commitment early and I became a state convention delegate. It’s your ability to relate to the full spectrum of the masses: elderly or not, Black or not, middle class or not, liberal or not. We listen to you and simultaneously feel a personal and collective connection. Your ability to incorporate every American facet in your vision helped me embrace “Yes We Can.” I expect the same from you as POTUS. Your eagerness to change America won’t transcend overnight, but I, like millions, feel apart of the same struggle.
As you enter the global arena, we at Prairie View, like the rest of Texas with a long history of social struggle, offer our advice and expectations.
Student Body Prez Johnie Jones, a senior agriculture major, believes people have “sacrificed jobs and lives to help you have this opportunity, so you owe it to us and America to manifest the vision — make the U.S. a conducive place for our people to be successful.” His VP Kenneth Grimes foresees you breaking “more barriers. No sacrifice, no victory.”
Sophomore history major Bradford Traywick expects his president to continue to “build alliances, reach across party lines and take the best and brightest for top posts throughout your first term.” So far, you done good!
International Relations Prof Michael Nojeim expects you to “carry out campaign promises: govern on behalf of the American middle class, bring Americans together, demand sacrifice and hard work from all Americans, and to always tell us the truth.” His advise: “be honest, be yourself and continue as a confident, thoughtful and deliberate man who seems to know how to make tough decisions. You’ll have to make far more than a normal president.”
Senior biology major Dorian Price feels your accomplishments are a mere “glimpse of glory God has bestowed upon the human race to come together for something bigger than petty differences.”
Economics Prof Sonja Langley expects you to mend “international relations and education as they are downright dismal and embarrassing,” and get the “credit market functioning.”
My vote feels so integral to your decisions, your leadership, your policies and most significantly, America’s Voice. Soooo, Good Morning. Stay true to your word and remain fly at all times… Style is a necessity!
Sincerely,
Charli Cooksey
PS. I collect my poli sci degree in May and consider going into law or serve in Teach for America. However, I’m ready to be vetted for any opportunity to work in your administration.
