It was just after lunch on January 20th when I remembered I planned on watching the presidential inauguration. I sat on my bed with anticipation and excitement to see a peaceful transition of power despite the protestations from the previous occupant of the White House. But one moment surpassed all, capturing my attention and leaving me in awe.
When I heard the opening words to Amanda Gorman’s poem, “The Hill We Climb,” I was enraptured by the prose and delivery. It was a retelling of the trials faced in years past, in years present. It was a message of hope, a beacon in a seemingly dark time. It was a call to better our society for those who come after us, for those who have been discriminated against time and time again.
The words that inspired me the most went like this: “And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. / We are striving to forge our union with purpose. / To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man. / And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.” To me, this summarizes the heart of this poem, that despite our differences and the violent dealings of our past and present, together we can create a country that respects and uplifts all. This is our calling in the days moving forward, and for the rest of our lives: “We seek harm to none and harmony for all.”
“If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made. / That is the promise to glade / the hill we climb, if only we dare.” ‘The hill we climb’ is one we can climb together, hand in hand, racing on to a bright tomorrow.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.