Home Latest Latest Kenyan Ambassador Peter Ogego, visiting John Hay High School, praises Obama's victory

Kenyan Ambassador Peter Ogego, visiting John Hay High School, praises Obama's victory

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CLEVELAND -- If students at John Hay High School believe the election of a black president changed their world -- and they do -- Peter Ogego reminded them that their world is a very big place.

Ogego, Kenya's ambassador to the United States, represents a nation that declared a national holiday hours after Barack Obama was elected U.S. president Nov. 4.

Kenya anticipates a spike in tourism, he said, as Americans trek to the ancestral home of Obama's father, a village near Nairobi. And it expects to learn lessons from the peaceful transition of power in the world's most powerful democracy.

"The election of Barack Obama has been an inspiration for Kenyans, especially the younger generation," Ogego told about 400 teenagers gathered Tuesday in the school auditorium. "Kenyans admire America. You have given us another model."

People in Kenya watched in astonishment, he said, as Americans elected a minority to their highest office -- something that would not happen in Africa. They took note of the key role young people played in the historic moment. And they saw an American ideal, one they badly wanted to believe, proved true.

"Whatever you want to do in life, you can do it," Ogego told the gathering of mostly black students. "There are no limits here. Not even the sky."

It was almost a year ago that Ogego accepted an invitation to kick off a new school-based program of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Called "Bridges to Africa," it's designed to highlight ties between America and major countries in Africa.

The election of Obama added new dimensions to Ogego's appearance, much as it expanded the horizons of many of the young people he spoke to.

Dantae Hill, 16, belongs to John Hay's School of Science and Medicine, one of three schools within the selective public high school. He was already planning to become a doctor.

"Now I'm looking at becoming CEO of a hospital," he said matter-of-factly.

Teachers and administrators are hearing a lot of that lately. They say they notice loftier ambitions, a new optimism since Nov. 4.

"A lot of the kids were very inspired by what happened," said Tianna Maxey, principal of John Hay's School of Architecture and Design. "They saw someone who worked diligently to achieve his goals. I think they made the connection -- that anything was possible. Just having that example added fuel to their fire."

Devonte Hopson,16, said he sees a lot of himself in the man who will become America's 44th president. The skin color. The single mother. The absent father. The ambition.

The John Hay junior carries a 3.75 grade-point average. He wants to be a mechanical engineer. He sat up until 1 a.m. watching election results.

"It makes you think you can do almost anything you set your mind to, seeing someone with your background getting elected president of the United States," he said.

Carrion Nash, 16, said she believes her opportunities expanded with her dreams. A nation that elected a black president, she said, is not going to stop a young black woman from becoming an obstetrician.

"I think people will give me more opportunity," she said. "I think I'll have a better chance."

An ambassador from Kenya said people a world away know just how she feels.

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/11/kenyan_ambassador_peter_ogego.html

Users' Comments (2)

Posted by Pete 12-02-2008 23:56, , Guest   For heaven's sake Akinyi please spare us the trouble. Ambasador Ogego was doing his duty when he disagreed with President elect during his visit to Kenya in 2006. Any one in his position would have done the same. Even the president elect will admit that he did not realise that the same people who were accusing the government were taking advantage of his popularity so that the masses could fall into the euophoria. And that is why when he was elected he did not call Raila first or call them at the same time. He understands that the buck stops with the President of the republic of Kenya, Preisdent Mwai Kibaki.   » Report this comment to administrator » Reply to this comment...   Posted by Akinyi Oluoch 11-25-2008 21:35, , Guest   "Irony of Situation" This is what my high school English teacher would have termed "Irony Of Situation." Is this the same guy who trashed Obama a few years ago? Is he just out on a public relation mission or does he really mean both his words and action? If so, is it that he learnt from his mistake or is this a political scheme?   » Report this comment to administrator » Reply to this comment... » See all 1 replie(s)

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