On Monday night I went to a graduate school fair at George Washington University, sponsored by Idealist. About five seconds after walking into the big conference room filled with tables, promotional brochures, and 20-somethings milling about I remembered: wait a minute, I hate these things. What the heck am I doing here?
It was made worse by the eager beaver DC crowd of aforementioned 20-somethings...highly educated, aggressive, practically wearing resumes on sleeves in an attempt to dazzle the smiling admissions officers. I got boxed out at the one table I wanted to talk to by some chick in a suit who started asking a question like "If I'm planning to pursue a triple JD-PPA-MBA degree, and I already aced the LSAT, then how should I....." I walked away to avoid the torture of listening to the second half of the question, snagged a couple brochures for the train ride, and reverted to the classic Panic and Leave approach that has served me well since middle school dances. Sigh.
If Monday night was all about crushing my hopes and dreams, Tuesday was about reviving them. Thanks to a facebook tip and a liberal-friendly office, I got to go hear Barack Obama speak at the Washington Hilton! After reading the Audacity of Hope I've been a fan and jumped at the chance to hear him live...pretty cool that after a quick 20 minute walk and breezing through the hotel lobby, I was in the same room as a US Senator and potential US president.
Although no speech connoisseur, I thought it was totally amazing and it brought tears to my eyes. When Obama talks about change, and working together, and hope for a better future it seems real and possible and not even an option to do anything else-- instead of just corny political cliches. Granted it was no serious policy presentation, and there was no Q&A session to dig deep into the issues...but I'll take a "hopemonger" over the current fearmongering White House resident any day. I sat there thinking, I know he is a liberal Democrat, but how could anyone NOT agree with wanting children to have a great education? All Americans getting to go to the doctor? Not killing people for an unjustified war? Protecting the planet we live on? Sounds more reasonable than progressive if you ask me.
Apologies for the not so great photo...the stage was a bit too bright to capture Barack (or was it just his sexy, candidate of the moment halo?) so I had to settle for the jumbotron near our seats.
Not so fun fact-- the Washington Hilton was where Reagan was shot back in the 80s. Can't say that fear didn't cross my mind while listening to Obama...we've come a long way but there are still the crazy racist factions in this country.
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