I leave for the nation’s capital in less than six hours – by car from Princeton, NJ – and dreading the traffic I’ll undoubtedly encounter. It will be unlike the Big-I at its worst, or Avenida Cesar Chavez just before the UNM vs. NMSU basketball game, or morning rush hour at Coors and Paseo Del Norte. Traffic will be snarling. And once I’m there I’ll have to travel by foot for days. Friends who live in DC have told me that they are already watching up to five metro trains pass them, with no room for additional passengers, during their commutes home from work.

So why go? If the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States wasn’t enough of a reason, I’m returning to my old college town (I graduated and moved last summer), and seeing dozens of friends from my alma mater and New Mexico.

But why really go? Our country’s transition from one President to the next has always been a momentous occasion, but none more so than this. None of them have held such great significance for the country’s past and implications for its future. When I attend on January 20, I’ll stand with people from every generation joining together to witness what the eldest never thought would come true and the youngest always believed would. For young men and women my age, it will mark the end of an administration that has been in power for our entire adult lives and the beginning of one that has instilled in us confidence that our country is finally headed in the right direction.

How could I afford to miss such an incredible event? Well – I wouldn’t have. Fortunately, I’m also one of the 240,000 guests who received tickets to attend. I'll be close to the west steps of The Capitol as Barack Obama recites the oath of office. I’ll say now that I’m grateful for the lottery. I was lucky enough to get my tickets to inauguration through Senator Tom Udall’s office. Like all other Members of Congress, he had a number of tickets to distribute to constituents. I called and expressed interest to attend and was entered into a lottery. In early January, a short email informed me that I would have the chance to attend the historic event as a ticketed guest.

There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be.

Why am I so excited? Here’s my most recent reason: earlier today, Barack Obama inspired me. He stood on the shoulders of giants and gave speeches from Philadelphia to Washington (with a stop in Biden’s home of Wilmington, Delaware). He invoked the great words and sentiments of Presidents-past to reinspire Americans in search of better days after a prolonged war, a deepening economic crisis, and a failing confidence in their government.

Most of all, I’m inspired by public service and so many leaders’ passion for making our country a better place for my generation, the next crop of leaders, and all those who will follow. Leaders like The Democratic Party of New Mexico’s Chairman Brian Colon, a mentor of mine, inspire me. Our new Congressional Delegation inspires me - especially Senator Tom Udall, whose office graciously accepted me as an intern years ago and who will now take his principled progressive values to the US Senate.  Perhaps most importantly – and the reason for this post – is that the President-Elect inspires me – and my whole generation. My final thoughts for this post are probably best expressed by Obama’s speech just this afternoon in Delaware, speaking to a crowd assembled around his train along the Whistlestop Tour to Washington:

Now, it falls to us to carry forward that American story, and to make it our own. Now, it falls to us to ensure that everyone in this country can make it if they try. Now, it falls to us to pick ourselves up, to reach for the promise of a better day, and to do the hard work of perfecting our union once more.