This is turning into a really bittersweet night for me

I have no doubt Obama's going to win. It's looking good, and we won it for him one last time. The sad thing is it's the last time.

I first started paying attention to politics around the time I could vote, the first Bush term. My first vote was 2002, and one of the most heartaching experiences ever as I had to watch both the death of Wellstone and the election of Coleman, even if we corrected that mistake six years later. But in 2004 I wasn't too involved in the primary, just the general, another heartache. But there was one bright spot, the Obama keynote speech that we all remember. When he announced in 2007, a high point of my life after the victories of 2006, I was all for him. I watched those brutal caucus fights, the unprecedented turnout and the way he inspired so many in my age bracket like no other candidate had before. I had just finished college and had a tough future ahead. Me and all others in my age group were putting our trust in Obama.

Today I had a sinking realization when I left the voting place that I had both cast my last ballot of my 20s, and my last vote for Obama. I had to wait 90 minutes in line, and during the time chatted with a cute girl in front of me. She was a graphic design student at the college we were voting at. Obviously we couldn't legally discuss the election, but it was obvious who each of us supported. She cast her ballot right after me. As we walked out of the polling place together and got a safe distance away I glanced and said "Obama?" She replied with an enthusiastic "Yes!" and I felt a connection, a strong one. As I walked back to my apartment I saw a girl I have seen around leaving, asked if she was voting, which she said she was. I then also said Obama, and she replied in the same way.

I'm sure we'll find someone great in 2016. But I can't see how anyone can inspire my generation like this man has. I only hope his last four years in politics give us more to be proud of.


I watched that Lena Dunham ad and I'm actually tearing up right now. This is something to be proud of, and for my generation to be proud of.