I can easily remember November of 2012, sitting on my bed, blow-drying my hair, and having my computer up and running on the website that updated every minute to keep a running total of the votes for Romney and Obama. As I anxiously watched the red states fill the screen and the count for Romney soar above Obama, I realized this was the first election I truly cared about. I have been really young during every election so I didn’t understand government at all. With this one, I understood and agreed with the majority of Obama’s opinions and felt very strongly that he was the one we needed for president again.

Maybe that is why when my newspaper advisor asked who would be interested in seeing President Obama speak at the Ford plant that coming Friday, two other staff members, my advisor, and myself jumped at the chance. The whole way there, we could barely help but randomly giggle at each other with wide eyes, in disbelief that this was really happening. We found the road we needed to be on and after having the car get wanded down by a secret service agent and getting through the short bout of security, we were inside. It seemed unreal that we would be at an event like that with all the big-shot news anchors. Sweaty photographers dressed in business clothes that were rolled up to their elbows weaved in and out of the crowd, trying to find the perfect angle for their shots. A group of reporters from several different news stations sat at the designated media tables and furiously typed away on their macs. I have to admit, I felt incredibly out of place without a two-foot-long camera on my shoulder.

The two staff members who would be photographing the event found their spot on a set of risers straight back from where the President would be standing just a few short hours from then, and my advisor and I found our spot with other reporters in the media section. As we waited, we anxiously scoped out the place, discussing where we thought the president would enter – we decided it just had to be the route right next to us.

Finally, after almost three hours of sitting and waiting, the music played and President Barack Obama waltzed out on stage. The crowd went crazy with applause. The President started off with joking about the Chiefs and the Bears, immediately capturing everyone’s attention. I know I’m not alone when I say that most government speeches go right over my head, but this one was so incredibly different. I was captivated from the beginning and easily followed the whole speech. The jokes were right where they needed to be, and the explanation was insanely easy to follow with the simple way President Obama delivered it. The speech lasted about 35 minutes, even though it only felt like 15, and suddenly the President was gone and out of my sight. Although I wish he could have spoken longer, the sheer fact that a few members of a small high school newspaper were 30 feet from the President of the United States was enough for me.

Check out this column in Thursday’s issue of the Liberty Tribune!