I have never been so proud to be an American.

Today, and in the days leading up to this momentous occasion, the American people banded together and created an unstoppable force. The result? Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States of America. Change is coming. Hope and faith in the government will be restored. It will not be easy. It will not be pretty. But it will be done.

This is a monumental occasion for African-Americans, who have never been given this chance before.

This is proof to the kids who sit in my class that a child who comes from a broken family, who was reared in poverty, who faced a life harder then anything I can imagine ... CAN become great. These kids need to see someone who hasn't always been great, who hasn't always been in charge, who hasn't always been rich. They need to see someone like Barack succeed, they need to see that it is possible. When life is hard, it is hard to believe something that you've never seen before ... now these kids will have the chance to see it. They have the chance to believe it. They have the chance to BE it. They have the opportunity, for what may be the first time in their lives, to really believe that "Yes! We can."

In other news, John McCain is, at this moment, giving a tremendous speech. One that I can actually listen to without cringing. He actually sounds earnest and sincere for the first time in all the months and years of this campaign. As the campaign unfolded, he became more and more bitter and hateful. In the last few months I have actually grown to despise this man and his running mate, Sarah Palin. They have run a dirty campaign filled with lies, fear mongering, and hate. Today, he has begun to rectify himself. While I'm sure he didn't write his speech, he delivered the words in a way that made me believe he really supports Obama in his presidency.

That being said, I cannot wait to see what Barack has in store for our country. I can't wait to see how he works together with Joe Biden, as well as the others in Washington to create a better America for all of us. While NCLB will undoubtedly be on the back burner for a little while, I can't wait to see what happens with the education reforms Barack has promised. I can't wait to see what will happen now that George Bush will no longer be leading our country down such an atrocious and dispicable path.

I have never been so proud to have voted (in the whole 2 elections I've voted in ... ;)) -- to have had my voice heard -- to have follwed the elections and the candidates -- to have made an incredibly informed decision that is based on key issues and the way the lives of those around me will be effected.

Good job, America. Good job.