Last night, I was on the phone with a friend discussing the evening I saw Barack Obama speak on my college campus. This was almost two years ago, in September 2007 when our current president was barely registering as a blip on my radar. Then, more of my support for presidential candidacy was thrown behind our now Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. I recall thinking back then that Barack Obama was undoubtedly an eloquent and energetic speaker but questioned whether or not he could he handle being the Commander in Chief. He seemed to be full of hope. He seemed to have his head too high in the clouds and his feet not firmly grounded in reality.

Critics of our President will still say these things about him. Or hurl words like “Marxist” and “socialist” at him and his supporters as derogatory attacks on their political philosophies, or sometimes their personal and private lives. Ever since Obama’s introduction to the public consciousness, fear mongers have tried to paint him as foreign, exotic, and dangerous. While I would not have counted myself among the likes of these fanatic Obama loathers, I was not yet an Obama supporter.

Two years later, I’ve done a complete 180. I now count myself as a loud and proud member of Generation O. President Obama’s catapult into the homes, hearts, and minds of people everywhere in the world coincided with my own personal politicization. This coincidence marks him as a symbol of a very crucial moment in my individual life. His presidency will serve as a reference point for the instance where my civic engagement was swept up in a movement that compelled people everywhere to reinvest in America, and consequently themselves and each other.

Now it’s time to assess what this collective energy has meant. Have Generation O’s support and belief in President Obama been in vain? Have our expectations of the Obama administration have been met.

It’s a bit difficult for me to grade the Obama administration. The best perspective comes with time and barely seven months into one’s presidency hardly gives one the filter necessary to properly assess how legislation and policy affects the lived experiences of Americans. With that acknowledgement that the following grades will be doled out using my premature perspective, I give you my personal report card for President Obama’s performance on the following issues:

Womyn’s Rights: A

Soon after his inauguration, Barack Obama enacted the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure that womyn receive equal pay for equal work. He rescinded the Mexico City Policy to help ensure reproductive rights for womyn on the international stage. With an executive order, Barack Obama created the White House Council on Women and Girls. The Obama Administration’s policies work to create a political framework where womyn do not suffer at the hands of discrimination simply beause of their sex and can begin to regain ownership of their individual bodies.

Healthcare: C+

President Obama would have received a C- for this had it not been for his unrelenting efforts to push reform through. As mentioned in my last post, the United States occupies a moment filled with great opportunity to ensure that every citizen is entitled to healthcare. It’s unfortunate that so many individuals are one job loss or one disease away from bankrupting herself or losing his life’s hard work to medical bills. No concrete accomplishments deserves a subpar grade.

Education: B

In my California bubble, I often lose sight as to what is playing out on the national landscape. It’s important for me to check myself and remember that what is going on in California is not necessarily what is going on in the world. Despite the education system crisis occuring here, there are still spots of brightness in the discussion of national education reform. Since his presidency has begun, Barack Obama has increased funding for Pell Grants to assist students enroll in college. He has also alloted 12 billion dollars in funding for the community college system. This system is often used by students to help prepare themselves for a four-year university down the road. In addition, many working adults turn to community college to learn new skills to boost their careers. Community colleges are a gateway to better jobs and higher education for many indivduals. In addition to increasing access to higher education, Barack Obama has acknowledged the importance of early childhood learning by increasing funding to Head Start programs.

Environment: B+

The Cash for Clunkers program has been gaining a lot of national attention. In the wake of the auto industry decline, this program has helped revitalize companies in the industry while simultaneously working to ensure more efficient energy use and consequently cleaner air. By taking inefficient cars off the road and replacing them with higher performing vehicles and providing consumers with financial incentives to do so, the American public reaps benefits on multiple fronts. Barack Obama has claimed since his campaign that energy reform was going to be one of his top priorities. With programs such as the Cash for Clunkers, and the Interior Department’s promise to begin leasing federal waters for offshore production of electricity in order to harness and expend renewable energy, President Obama’s promises are being honored.

These are the issues that I have found to be most pertinent to my life and as such are the ones I watch most closely, am more inclined to engage in discussion on, and work towards making gains on. As a recent college grad, I am involved in a process to re-root my life in California, where I was born and raised. Spending my undergrad years in Manhattan granted me a unique college experience and served as a vibrant background for my politicization to begin and foster. Back on the Left Coast, I am excited to find my niche in the professional world where my labor can contribute to the empowerment of others.

Barack Obama came into a presidency burdened with issues labeled as insurmountable. While many of his promises have not yet realized fruition, Barack Obama refuses to back down from the challenge. He recognizes his responsibility to his constituents and is fully dedicated to improving the lives of every one, every where regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, or other social marker. In my book, he gets an A+ for effort.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to participate in this project with my fellow Gen O bloggers. Thank you for making the time to visit our blog and to contribute to our discussion.

-Emerald Maravilla