Sep 17, 2008 By Spreeha Debchaudhury - La Jolla Light
Me with two of my friends from the Symposium, Kyrzia (center) and Willy (right).
Photo by: Courtesy
(Day 4) Me at the Invesco Field Stadium, where Obama gave his historic acceptance speech.
(Day 3) Protesters at the Denver Convention Center
(Day 1) Pepsi Center
When one considers a "once-in-a-lifetime" event, something like high school or college graduation might come to mind. Those too, I will soon experience (one of them just this June), but for now, the event that comes to mind when I think of the words "once-in-a- lifetime" is the Democratic National Convention.
It was so beyond amazing to simply be there in the midst of political history, amongst the protesters and the street vendors and all the different signs and fliers. Sure, it was a disappointment not getting access to the floor, but the Junior Statesmen of America Symposium on the DNC is something I will never forget.
On the list I will never forget the African-American assemblywoman who spoke so powerfully and so passionately that I wondered why more people who run for public office can't inspire so much confidence and faith. I will never forget Hillary Clinton's speech. She was so strong and moving and so "real." I will never forget the friends I made. I met people from all over the country. I met Hillary supporters, Obama supporters, even a few leftover Edwards supporters.
I will never forget that night at Invesco Field. I was sick that morning and the walk was exhausting, but it was so worth it. I will never forget the feeling of the entire stadium rumbling as everyone stomped their feet in welcome of Gore, Biden and Obama. I will never forget the explosion of red, white and blue confetti that erupted into the sky at the end of Obama's speech, and trying (somewhat futilely) to catch one of those tiny scraps of paper as it floated slowly back down to the ground.
Shouting out I will never forget ... feeling suddenly like I was on top of the world as I shouted and cheered with my fellow Democrats.
The Republican National Convention began mere days after I came home. Some of my friends from the convention departed to that convention, as well. Whatever their political alignment, I know the DNC was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for them too, and hope that they found the RNC symposium every bit as rewarding as I found the DNC. We're all going to be on the edge of our seats come November, because no one's going to be able to call this one. Either way.
Spreeha Debchaudhury Spreeha Debchaudhury will be a senior at La Jolla High School this year. She was selected by the Junior Statesman Foundation to attend the Democratic Convention and will be posting reports from Denver on our Web site.
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