Spring Break
Nothing can stand in the way of millions calling for change
Columnist recalls experience working for Obama campaign
Kallie Schell
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
One-hundred six days. That is the approximate amount of time that I spent pouring my heart and soul into the Barack Obama Campaign For Change. Prior to that I had been the typical skeptic about American politics and the strength of our country. This campaign changed everything.
I was still in high school and worked out of a small office (dubbed "The Office") in La Crosse, Wis., where the regular workers became like family. Six kids from my high school and I were the "super volunteers/interns," and we prided ourselves on that. I faced fears of speaking with strangers and stepped out of my comfort zone to call area voters and knock on doors. I passed out countless leaflets, shouted on a parade float, volunteered at rallies and was absolutely transformed. Politics became my new passion; this campaign was my love. I sought out the results of polls, shirked my duties as a student to watch the debates, put in an extra hour or two at the office and reveled in all that was about this campaign. Though I did not work nearly as long on this campaign as a majority of the other volunteers, I did feel the full force of unprecedented greatness.
The last weekend was called "GOTV Weekend" (Get Out the Vote) and by Election Day, my knuckles were raw from canvassing and my voice tired from calling. Nov. 4 is what would make or break how much our work was worth. Going to school wasn't even an option in my books; I had to be in the center of the action. I had to be out there one more time to make sure I worked right until the end.
Out of sheer anticipation I was out of bed by 5 a.m. I spent that day rallying in the center of UW-La Crosse, going door-to-door and directing people to where they could vote. Around 5 p.m. we found out the democrats had secured Pennsylvania and Ohio, which was a mini victory for all of us, but not enough to call it a day. A couple of friends and I headed out one last time, into the chilly night, to knock on doors to make sure the community had voted.
I was still in high school and worked out of a small office (dubbed "The Office") in La Crosse, Wis., where the regular workers became like family. Six kids from my high school and I were the "super volunteers/interns," and we prided ourselves on that. I faced fears of speaking with strangers and stepped out of my comfort zone to call area voters and knock on doors. I passed out countless leaflets, shouted on a parade float, volunteered at rallies and was absolutely transformed. Politics became my new passion; this campaign was my love. I sought out the results of polls, shirked my duties as a student to watch the debates, put in an extra hour or two at the office and reveled in all that was about this campaign. Though I did not work nearly as long on this campaign as a majority of the other volunteers, I did feel the full force of unprecedented greatness.
The last weekend was called "GOTV Weekend" (Get Out the Vote) and by Election Day, my knuckles were raw from canvassing and my voice tired from calling. Nov. 4 is what would make or break how much our work was worth. Going to school wasn't even an option in my books; I had to be in the center of the action. I had to be out there one more time to make sure I worked right until the end.
Out of sheer anticipation I was out of bed by 5 a.m. I spent that day rallying in the center of UW-La Crosse, going door-to-door and directing people to where they could vote. Around 5 p.m. we found out the democrats had secured Pennsylvania and Ohio, which was a mini victory for all of us, but not enough to call it a day. A couple of friends and I headed out one last time, into the chilly night, to knock on doors to make sure the community had voted.
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