In 2004, I was granted the opportunity to serve as a security department intern at the Democratic National Convention just before the beginning of my senior year at Boston College. After months of preparation work (i.e. doing all kinds of random tasks for the senior staff of the DNC Security staff), I finally received my convention day assignments: to serve as the deputy to the convention floor security manager. Yes, I DO know that this doesn’t sound incredibly interesting; however, it ultimately gave me the opportunity to roam freely through just about every corridor of the convention hall (then known as the Fleet Center) and literally gave me a front row seat to the event that launched the national political career of America’s 44th President.

Standing near the base of his podium, just outside the press pen of eager photographers, I had an opportunity to hear Barack Obama’s powerful keynote address. However, unlike most of the convention attendees, I witnessed this historic moment from a unique vantage point that allowed me to direct my focus to the audience and not the evening’s keynote speaker. Looking out into the convention hall, I had the opportunity to witness the overwhelming excitement amongst the faces of tens of thousands of delegates, party leaders, and activists as Barack Obama introduced himself to America. At the same time, I also shared the communal feeling with everyone in the room that – on this particular night – we were experiencing something extraordinary.