It's amazing what a week, or even a single day, can do.
Last week was full of what passes as a normal student's schedule. Classes were filled with my various machinations aimed at getting that all-important A at the end of the semester. Work followed classes, effectively rendering my schedule simply "the newsroom" for three nights. Both were expected and enjoyed, as hard as that is to admit.
Outside of school and work, the unforeseen obstacles and events in life popped up. I spent hours on the phone with customer service departments trying to remove $200 worth of charges that "mysteriously" showed up on my debit account. I learned about how a plane can be taken down by flying rodents and what a properly trained pilot can do about it. Through it all, I thought of life in the terms of Logan. The zoom was maxed out and couldn't get any closer on my little world.
Everything changed Tuesday. It was like that dramatic shot in your favorite movie when the camera pulls back to show what the scene and overall plot is really all about.
My whole perspective changed as I watched Barack Obama's inauguration with about 30 other people in a classroom. The idea that my world was most important vanished. In its place was the realization that most of the everyday things I consider important are totally inconsequential on a national and global scale.
It might seem pretty logical to claim that my realization was quite obvious. Stop and think for a second though. What do you think about for the vast majority of the day? The far-reaching implications of what you're doing now or might do in the future? Or do you spend your time thinking about whether Jenny or Johnny checked you out in class and what might be good for dinner?
Once in a great while, there are occurrences that make everyone stop and consider things less mundane. Certain events have that uncanny ability to make everyone sit up, pay attention and breach the shallow distractions our minds are usually occupied with. Obama's inauguration was certainly one of those times, regardless of your political leanings or philosophy.
For me, it's the first time since 9/11 that a national event stirred something deep within me. On that terrible day, most of my thoughts were full of fear, anger or hurt. Tuesday, I was full of excitement, hope and confidence. And I think all of you were full of those feelings Tuesday too.
Campus was more alive than it has been any day since I've been here. It's something I've waited for a long time to experience. People were running around talking about Obama and his speech, heaping praise and tossing criticism with more energy than a child on a three-week sugar binge. It was amazing, and it's still hanging around.
That's what I want for the new year. It's mid-January already, but listen to my request. This year, let's keep the hope alive. Let's make sure things change. Most of all, let's make sure to be passionate about whatever it is we're doing.
The inauguration is over and the hangover of reality has yet to set in. Before it does, let's start making reality into what it should be with Tuesday as a guide.
Write to Logan at lmbraman@bsu.edu
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