The Medallion
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The Medallion Notre Dame Academy 1073 Main Street Hingham, MA 02043 March 2009 The Inauguration of Barack Obama Hailey Chalhoub ‘09 January 17, 2009. I waved good-bye to my father at Logan Airport as I embarked on a new adventure. I was traveling by myself to our nation’s capital to witness one of the most momentous occasions in America’s history: the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama. January 20, 2009; 5:00 AM. Despite the sleep deprivation from the night before, Two years ago I attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine, an I awoke to realize that I would be witnessing a historic event in nearly twelve organization that is affiliated with several other leadership conferences, namely hours and the fact that I received less than five hours of sleep didn’t matter that the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference (PYIC). This past spring PYIC much. I quickly dressed and ate breakfast as I anxiously waited to see Obama invited me, as well as the other students who attended one of the conferences, to be sworn in as America’s 44th president. The group, all 7,500 students, filed experience a four-day trip that included keynote speakers, leadership activities, into the Smithsonian Museum next to the Mall, avoiding the cold before the sightseeing and, of course, Obama’s inauguration. At first, I was a little hesitant inauguration. Thankfully, I had made some adventurous friends and, at 9:30 AM, to attend the conference, due to my lack of interest in politics. However, as the we ventured out onto the National Mall to mark our viewing territory. Nearly one 2008 elections fired up, and with the remarkable victory of Obama, I was ecstatic thousand meters away from the Capitol, we were content; we were surrounded that I had agreed to go on the trip. by jumbo screens and the area around wasn’t too crowded. However, when we At the conference, I was one of 7,500 high school students, 3,500 middle-school noticed that a gate had been opened, my friends and I immediately jumped at the students and 4,000 college students from all over the country. As one of the opportunity to get closer. We pushed our way through the crowds of people faculty advisors put it, “this was going to be big.” Eager to meet people to share and inched our way closer to the Capitol building until we found a spot at the my excitement with, I wasted no time making friends before I even left the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, just about three hundred meters away. airport. Later, as I settled into the hotel and was assigned to a small group, I met As I eagerly awaited the swearing-in ceremony, I couldn’t help but notice the more students from Indiana, Chicago, California, Pennsylvania, Florida and even indescribable energy that penetrated the atmosphere. It was clear that everyone Puerto Rico and Germany! around me was freezing; however, it was even clearer that they didn’t mind. That first night, all 7,500 high school students loaded up into nearly 200 buses Millions of Americans had gathered together on the Mall and it was evident that and headed to the University of Maryland to listen to the first keynote speaker: they were all there for the same reasons: to support our newly elected president journalist Lisa Ling. Lisa has worked for Channel One News and has reported and to witness history. Despite their differences of race, gender, religion and from across the globe. She spoke to us about traveling with an open mind and political party, everyone appeared to be united in those few hours. People not relying on the media to convey everything that is going on in the world. Lisa chimed in with the cheers of “Yes We Can” and embraced one another as if to tries to find the stories that remain untold and tell them. say, “Yes We Did.” On the second day, after an early wake up call, the group went back to the When Obama was being sworn in and again when he was giving his inaugural University of Maryland to hear two more keynote speakers: General Colin speech, the cheers ceased and a universal silence swept across the atmosphere. Powell and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell President Obama’s words resonated throughout Washington D.C., throughout surprised me with his down-to-earth personality. He appeared to be very America and throughout the world. He spoke with such confidence as he humble and modest about his numerous accomplishments. He discussed his conveyed his hope, determination, promise and diplomacy. In that moment, hope for our generation and he conveyed a general message about leadership it was clear that this was not only a victory for Obama, but a victory for all in society. Colin Powell was very interesting; however, I was more excited to Americans as well. hear Desmond Tutu. Tutu is the most adorable preacher who is also a notable After watching some of the parade from warmth of Nationals Ball Park, we human rights activist. He spoke out against apartheid and was a good friend to returned to the hotel and got ready for a ball at the National Air and Space Gandhi. He, like Powell, believed that today’s younger generation has the power Museum. This was not one of Obama’s Inaugural Balls and he did not make an to change the world and, quoting his friend Gandhi, he expressed his wish for appearance; however, Chris Daughtry performed and the night was filled with us to “be the change [we] wish to see in the world.” Following the speakers, we music, dancing and millions of photo opportunities. The night soon ended and made our way to the National Mall for the Opening Inaugural Celebration. The it had sunk in that it was finally time to say good-bye to the friends that I had celebration was a concert held at the Lincoln Memorial. Although we didn’t get become so close to in such a short amount of time. close enough to see the performers, big jumbotron screens lined the Mall so we could still see and hear artists like Beyonce, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Usher and I am still overwhelmed by this experience. With Obama’s inauguration, as well Bruce Springsteen. as the inspirational keynote speakers, this trip has given me a sense of hope for America’s future. I am so glad that my parents convinced me to go last spring On the third day, Monday, we woke up early again to hear Former Vice President because it was truly the experience of a life time. I am extremely thankful for this Al Gore speak about his accomplishments, his hopes for the future and his opportunity and I can’t wait to tell my grandchildren about it! concerns about the environment. Following his speech we went to the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the progression of journalism through American history. This museum was fascinating, with a wing that featured Pulitzer Prize winning photos, a September 11th memorial and part of the Berlin Wall. Page 1 of 8 NDA @ 2:19 Love Your SMART Board Assembly with Brooke Kanal: Body Image? Colleen Sharry ‘09 Kerry McCabe ’12 and Olivia Adkins ‘12 Thanks to a generous donor who donated $23,000 to Notre Dame Academy’s Last month, everyone gathered in the auditorium for an assembly on body image. technological development, SMART Boards, the cutting edge in classroom The speaker was Brooke Kanal, a fashion stylist who works with the world’s top computer technology, have been successfully installed in all of the classrooms models. Her presentation focused on the illusion of fashion ads and how it’s her at NDA. Teachers are being trained, students are getting used to writing their job to “sell the product” by making it look the best that it possibly can in the ad. math homework on the touch-screens and classes need to make the occasional Brooke showed us the various tools that she uses during a shoot and some of the call down to the IBM lab where the ever-helpful computer technicians are always ways that she uses them to make the clothes appear to fit the models better. around to lend a hand. The frustration that always comes along with learning to use new technology (much like grandparents learning to use the internet, or as While the assembly was interesting and gave everyone a different perspective my Nana still calls it, “the internets”) is apparent. Sometimes we look longingly when it comes to magazine ads, it did not have much to do with body image. All at the chalk boards, thinking of the uncomplicated days of the past. of Brooke’s tools are just used to make the baggy clothes fit the extremely thin, perfect-looking models. She did not talk about the pressure that the models in However, if we work together to embrace this new technology, these overhead these kinds of ads put on girls. In other words, Brooke didn’t focus on how the projectors on steroids have the potential to change the way the classrooms bodies of the people in these ads are unrealistic and often unhealthy. Instead, the at NDA operate, bringing the academy firmly into the 21st century. Give your main focus of her presentation was about her job as a fashion stylist and what teachers a hand and help each other work out the kinks in this new technology she does in a shoot.