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Obama Inauguration Is 'The Event Of Our Generation,' Say Young Attendees

Many college students say skipping class to head to D.C. was well worth it.

Of the millions of people who descended upon Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (January 20) to watch [article id="1603090"]President Barack Obama's inauguration[/article], many were college students who decided that the chance to witness real-life history in the making was worth the risks of ditching school for a day. Young people packed themselves into cars and buses to journey from all over the country, slept on friends' couches and braved the cold to watch the beginning of the administration they were largely responsible for electing.

"We drove in my car all night long," said Brittany, 20, from Central State University in Ohio. "We decided at 9 o'clock last night to go. We didn't tell our teachers, we didn't tell nobody. We just left -- and we run we run the residence halls!

"I might not be able to register for classes; I might be in trouble, but I'm excited!" she gushed.

"It was worth the cold and the wind and the crowds and the subway and sleeping on the floor for three days," said Adam, 20, who drove up from Duke University. "It was important that we were here."

Adam actually started the election season as a volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign, but he made the switch and worked for Obama last summer. "It's a history-making event today," he said. "Hopefully, the path of the nation will be different in the future. We wanted to be here, to say that we were here."

Others agreed that they attended the event because they wanted to tell future generations they were there. "My dad told me I had to come because I missed the Million Man March," 18-year-old Howard University student Leo Brooks said. "This is the thing. This is the event for our generation. ... I think it's an important time in American history, especially with how bad things are."

But Brooks was wary of putting too much pressure on the new president. "Obama is kind of reaching this iconic status," he said. "We're really putting a lot on him. I think everybody really just wants to come out and support him. And hopefully, if everyone's here, if we're all united, we can get through this together."

Maggie, 21, a local college student, was also worried that the country was taking Obama's "hope" message too far. "I hope people don't get their hopes up too much," she said. "Every president has limits. But, I am optimistic."

But most attendees were thinking nothing but positive thoughts as they watched the 44th president parade through the city. "The energy was amazing," D.C. resident Tiffany Clark, 24, said. "Being around those people who are so excited to be here was awesome."

Watch "Be the Change: Live From the Inaugural" online now, and come back Thursday for the full performances from Kanye West, Kid Rock and Fall Out Boy. Stick with us for wall-to-wall coverage of the inauguration and of the scenes in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Kenya.

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