Having been to Mount Holyoke College where I spent 4 crucial years of my life, I was brain-washed with idealistic values. Throughout this period, perfect-world concepts such as multi-faith councils, equality for women and gay people, reduced wealth disparity, no more race discrimination, freedom of speech, and acceptance of wide-ranging views were routinely instilled in students through classes and lectures, at religious centers and in college clubs and societies. Mount Holyoke had created an ideal world within its premises that sheltered me from the harsh realities of the "real" world. But once I graduated and left school, I was met with a society that lacked selflessness, kindness and compassion. Soon I had to undo my defense-less ways and re-train myself to be more guarded and skeptical. Somewhere along the line, I lost track of my extremely idealistic values as I was struggling to keep afloat on the rocky boat ride of life. I was often disturbed by news of wars, religious discrimination, "random"(coincidentally people from specific regions) security checks and gender biases.
But today, I feel different. I sense a return of all those idealistic values that a small American liberal-arts college had once infused in me. This is the world Mount Holyoke had envisioned for me and has prepared me to live in and fight for. As proven by Obama's presidency, yes, it is possible for Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, gays, blacks, whites, Asians, Africans, the poor and the rich to co-exist and be equal. As Obama promises, yes, it is possible to resolve conflicts in a civilized manner and not with the aid of bombs, tanks, missiles and nuclear weapons. Today, 7 years since leaving college, my beliefs and ideals finally align with those of America. My friends, welcome to a new world, welcome to a new era, and welcome Obama!
