Biden's Home State Ball
by Monisha Smith '04

I was lucky enough to be invited to Biden's Home State (Delaware and Pennsylvania) Official Inaugural Ball. I felt this was quite the privilege being about to do this at 26 years old and still very fresh to the political arena. We arrived at the Convention Center promptly at 6 p.m. and were escorted immediately through security. Once inside, we ascended two escalators and were greeted by the official Seal of the Presidential Inauguration Committee. The Ball was amazing. My boss, the now Senior Senator from Delaware was there with his wife, along with our newly elected Governor Jack Markell.

There were tons of mingling and a sense of relaxation, all having made it through the adventure, and now we were celebrating. At about 10 p.m., the Army band began to play and Vice President Biden and his wife Jill greeted us. About 30 minutes later, President Obama and First Lady Michelle greeted us and honored us with a dance, and last but not least, I ended my night in the front row to watch Maroon 5 perform. I never would have thought I would have been that close to President Obama and the First Lady. It was just past midnight and I was turning into a pumpkin. We decided to begin our journey home and so ended my journey through history.