Though Washington D.C. draws many tourists daily, the site rarely sees the nearly two million people that packed the capital on Jan. 20. President Barack Obama’s inauguration attracted people from all over the world, including a few enthusiastic South students.
Sophomore Chaela Jones went to the inauguration with her mother, who won the tickets through a raffle. The tickets’ value wasn’t lost on Jones family. “My mother didn’t let me hold the tickets because we didn’t want to lose them,” Jones said. She was thrilled at the opportunity see the inauguration. “Words can’t express how joyful I was to see a black president,” she said. Even with the “frostbite that turned [her] hands blue and purple” in the 17 degree weather, Jones was happy to be there. For her, nothing could take away from the memorable day.
Jones wasn’t the only one who suffered through bitter cold. While junior Ari Shvartsman thought being at the inauguration was “one of the greatest things,” he couldn’t bear the conditions. “At this point I am freezing cold. I can’t feel my legs and I’m just like, ok, I’m here,” he said. He finally left the spot it took him and his friends hours to get so he could find a warmer place, which he had heard existed farther back. Unfortunately, the rumors were false. “Fun fact: There were no warming stations on the mall. Way to be a douche, country.”
Eventually, Shvartsman was at his breaking point. “I was getting really frustrated and upset. I just … said I couldn’t take it anymore and I left.”
Although Shvartsman left early and didn’t actually see Obama’s oath, he still loved being in D.C. for such a meaningful event. “I went down to be with the big mass of people who were excited about it,” he said. “The speech you’ll be able to see any time. You know what he stands for. Just to say that I was in Washington DC [during the inauguration] … that’s enough for me.”
The mass of people was a unique part of the experience for Jones too. “There were so many people pushing their way through. People were so anxious to get to the front,” Jones said. She noted, however, that there was no violence or disrespectfulness. “When people were told to be quiet while praying, you could hear a pin drop. No one was talking or being rude.” Junior Nick Kozlov was mesmerized by the crowd. “I’ve never seen so many people and so much excitement,” he said. Kozlov attended the event with the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, which enabled him to watch the inauguration as well as meet many well-known people, such as Al Gore. “It was the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever experienced in my life up to this point,” he said.
Though many South students were given the opportunity to watch the inauguration live on television, the students who made it to D.C., no matter how different there experiences were, consider the trip to be well worth it. “It was great to be part of the crowds,” Shvartsman said. “I’m so happy I went.”
Jones agreed. “I can tell everyone that I witnessed history.”
