My future, my fantasy.!!

Think about yourself worthy to be called as IT professional, how do you see yourself 10 years from now, what are your strategies to get there?

The question stated above can be answered in just a few words, a few sentences or phrases perhaps but before that let us try to dissect the question and layout words and experiences of high importance that will make us understand those words above and thus deriving to a conclusion that the question is seeking.

Future. Tomorrow. Two words that evidently differ in the form they are spelled, in the manner they are used and in the degree or length of the period of time that they refer. But amidst such discernible differences both can be said to share the same essence, An essence that translates a period of time after today, after the present. A time often imagined, tried being oversee, a time of uncertainty. A product of yesterday’s dreams and today’s actions, it is what we call as the CONSEQUENCES of the past and present. It makes one wonder, “What would I be?”, “What would my future would be like?”.

Fate. Destiny. Words of different form and character but carries the same trail of thought. Both terms seems to the order of things predetermined or established by some divine decree. Every person has a different fate, a unique destiny, a different path of life that is determined by his decisions. Should one believe in something like fate or destiny? Thou the point being stressed here is not the destiny of falling in love with someone or any other romantic delusions one has but to the academic point of view. Would one be destined for greatness? More specifically, am I destined to be an IT professional, my services being sought with all those large and well known corporations?

Dreams. Goals. Most of the times these words are used interchangeably. If not, then is used to relate the other word from the other. Both are very much in tune to the same idea when defined, thus making most people confused of the manner of using both words but in reality the execution of both words varies largely, distinguishing their differences more clearly. man was created a dreamer sculpted for towering ambitions and colossal aspiration. He is endowed with the conscience and knowledge of good and evil, equipped with the exceptional artistry, dexterity.

Have you ever dreamed of sailing around the world-alone? Or have dreamed of being an Olympic equestrian, a CSI detective, or win a Nobel Prize? How about being an IT professional or simply finishing college as an IT fourth year regular student?

If you have ever dreamed or aspired to accomplish any of these difficult tasks or any of a thousand others the human mind can dream- then you are alive. You are a thinking, feeling human being that is emotionally, spiritually and physically alive, for dreams are the fire that lights up our human spirit.

Every person within her, her own set of dreams and goals in life, but what is a dream? A dream is an idea that develops within a courageous human mind and it is like a seed. If a seed is carefully planted at the appointed time in fertile soil and matured with the proper amount of water and sunlight, it will spring into life and bloom to full maturity. So is it with the dreams of men. It was one said that,” A man who has a dream is a man with a promise. A man pursuit of a dream a man who is alive. A man who has achieved a dream is a man who has experienced life and conversely, a man who has a cold heart or sterile mind or is engulfed in fear to achieve his dreams is a man who is dead.”

All dreams however, like every great and noble aspiration that has passed in one’s mind, are difficult to achieve, because all dreams are attended with risks. I, for one, is thinking that “Would I really finish my studies at the appointed time? Would I fail again? But if I would I shall rise again. Would I really be a competent and globally competitive IT professional in the future? Am I really destined to be one?” In thoughts like those we can see to opposing but mysteriously interrelated human emotions that exist in all of us and that are, fear and courage. Many people don’t realize (or is it only me) that in order to achieve dreams they need to face the risks positively. How many of us have been swept under by fear only to find within ourselves a source of courage beyond our own comprehension? Is it not the fear of the unknown, of the future, of our ability and competence which creates challenge and willingness to say I can? And is it not that ensuing drive to meet the test that generates our courage, which in turn, is our source of strength to conquer fear and meet the challenge? Fear and courage are always present in our dreams and if, however, fear suffocates our courage, we will fail; if courage sterilizes fear, we will die; but if a proper mixture of both permeates our quest, we will succeed. It therefore takes courage to dream, for successful dreamers are neither weak men or are they fools.

But dreaming isn’t enough. A wise men one said, “Do not live in your dreams and forget to live”. It is wonderful to have a dream. It can also be wonderful to have a goal. They can be useful, or a burden, depending on where you are in your personal growth. Today, though, I am looking at something different. Today I am looking at the difference between having a dream and having a goal.

A dream is a goal without legs. It is a wonderful thing to have, can be the guiding passion of your life, but unless you clarify it and give it the legs to move toward you, getting there is going to be very much a matter of luck.

To transform a dream into a reachable goal you must clarify it, provide the details, and make it so clear that you can see it, feel it, know what you will feel like when you get there. This works for you in many ways. It clarifies what you want to the point that you will always be attuned to anything that is relevant. Opportunities will not pass you by unnoticed. It shows you what you need to do to get there, step by action step. It makes false detours and dead ends less likely to distract you. And perhaps the images you carry in your mind and heart will echo out to the universe for manifestation. The clearer and more vivid the image, the more likely are all of these things to happen.
Goals and dreams complement each other. If you only have dreams without any goals to support them, you can easily feel overwhelmed by the enormity of your dream. The shorter-term goals provide achievable intermediate targets that serve as stepping stones toward your dream.

If you only have goals but no dreams, you can easily fall into the trap of focusing so much on the steps that you lose sight of your destination. You run the risk of forgetting "why" you are pursuing these goals in the first place. Specific short-term goals are not terribly motivating by themselves either; their power comes from their connection to a big inspiring dream.

Looking back when I was still in my preschool days, I used to imagine myself carrying a brief case full of folders and legal papers, my hair pulled back in a tight bun and wearing smart looking glasses to intimidate my opponents in the legal battle that I am going to be in. I dreamed of being a lawyer whether it be for criminal law or tax law. For me, in that early stage of my life and young mind, it seemed really cool to be a lawyer. Later on, I changed my mind and decided to be a teacher instead. I was having a lot of hard time going to school and face the scary teachers scowling at us and giving us all these exams and projects and I thought that if I became a country serving, nationalistic teacher I can make other kids suffer the way I did when I was young. Its a kind of a payback for me. But then I fall out of liking that dream of mine because it really seemed silly and childish not to mention a bit diabolical, to a point of stupidity if I might add.

It was a beginning of another school year, my senior and last year in high school. For three years, I have worked hard to be where I am now, or rather at that time. Finally a senior in high school, a young person on the threshold of adulthood, thinking of important but silly things like, What have I become?“, “What will I take up in college?”, “What do I want to be like?”, and other things concerning m future. I told myself that I have to set my goals, to make plans. I want to look into the distant future and see the things that can be the consequences of my actions or my decisions-to-be. Even though a lot of people expressed their opinions of college being almost hell-like (as some may put it), full of hardships, sleepless nights and torment brought by the monster professors, I cannot seem to imagine myself in such frightening situations. I was always thinking that maybe some people was just exaggerating things. I have no time to ponder on such things because actually I still haven’t chosen, a college I would like to go to, more importantly I still have not decided on a course. All this things like planning and strategizing my way to a college or to find a course just remained as thoughts. Later on, I heard my friends are taking exams in various colleges, so I joined in all those exams without any clear direction. A huge portion of my acquaintances and close friends were stuck between choosing a medical or computer related course, so was I at that point. I passed nearly all college entrance exams I took and since most of my friends tried to enroll as an Information Technology or Computer Science student in the University of South Eastern Philippines where I also passed. And finally I decided, rather abruptly, to go to this university, who is known for being a tough school wherein a huge percentage of the students are not only brilliant but also scholars under various foundations and organizations. I said to myself that since I don’t know what course I would want to be in or I don’t know what university I want to attend, I would just pick a college where a lot of my friends would enroll.

Why? Simply because if I ever feel sad or miserable at least I have a lot of friends to help me and to guide me and well, to cry on. It was kind of cowardly of me, now that I think about it but that was really the main reason why I became an Information Technology student in the University of South Eastern Philippines. (Sir Gamboa may wrung my neck if he reads this. Kidding!!) . Making decisions was the painful part for me, the part I agonized over. But once the decision was made, I simply followed through — usually with relief that the choice was made. Sometimes the relief was tainted by despair, like my decision to come to USEP as an IT student. But it was still better than wrestling with the alternatives. This decision was ridiculously easy to live with, just go with the flow and deal wit all te consequences, that’s what I thought. I tried to think of the positive things rather than pondering on the negative things. For example, instead of fearing that I will be horrible in a computer related course because I have no computer knowledge, I don’t even surf the net that much those days and I would fare better in a science or medical course because (I ‘m not bragging but) I am good in sciences and I totally love Biology and Chemistry, I told myself rather enthusiastically that I must build up my weakness in dealing with computers than strengthen my knowledge on things that I am already good at. My sister thought that I made a brave and right move for the same reason. Sometimes, I get confused n whether I am really saying all those stuff to assure my family that I made the right decision or if I am convincing my own self, but either ways I convinced my sister and a part of myself at that time, and that seems enough. But it also occurred to me that it’s also high time for kids like me living in this digital society to be familiar with computer and the cyber space for it’s the information age.

For these past three years in college, I learned to love my course and my school, not only due to my old and newly acquired friends but also to all the things I learned that made me get excited, ecstatic and sometimes scared. It seems to grow on me with each passing day. I have realized a lot of things, really, like we are in the information age of the digital society and technology it growing more and more everyday through the brilliant minds of the IT professionals like Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft and Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google.

Speaking of Google, one night I saw news about Google. A place where all computer geeks like me considered as a haven. According to that news, Google was ranked as the number ONE office or work haven in the world. It offers not only a place for computer nerds and wizards to serve the masses by providing a well built and maintained search engine but also other websites and services that the cyber space can offer. Google for me, makes the word impossible seem non-existent. This is my new professed dream, to work in Google’s main office and be one of its contributors or partner. In class, I was not the smartest student but I always try to do my best to be one. I listen to the lessons, I do my projects and assignments without crying about the sleepless nights and no-bath-days that I had in a few consecutive days. I did all of these not only to be a good student but also to be a successful IT professional in the future.

One of my subjects required me to adopt an IT related company and do interviews, scrutinize their networks and systems and al that stuff. We were asked to develop a Information System Plan, and upon hearing it I thought it would be easy. Later I found out it wasn’t. Why? Through the interviews, company visits and system observation, what I know at the moment is still insufficient. The IT world is so broad, can not be drawn to a map, it has limitless boundaries and possibilities. I realized that even if I finish four years of college studying about it through the entire lessons given to me, I can not learn all things that an IT professional should know.
And from what I called “NEAR FAILED EXPERIENCED”, I had last semester from my other class, it confirmed my thoughts that I seem to have left a lot of IT rocks unturned. It dawned me that with a pace as slow as I am going now how can I be a Google partner or contributor with such lack of knowledge. I cannot say that it the university’s fault since as I said the IT environment is so broad that they can’t possibly cram them all into the prospectus. It all down to me, I guess.

Going back to the question given above, I like to see myself as a brilliant IT professional who balances her time as a Google contributor, an IT enterprise or IT school owner, and a family woman of course.

Right now, my first strategy to achieve these goals is to do some planning and this time to actually pour some efforts and actions to it. I believe that strategic planning makes false detours and dead ends less likely to distract me. I would try to be specific in creating my plans and goals. Study in school, and do some self study for other things that my classes can not teach me. I think the self study part is the most important; one should not be contented with what other people teach them. Especially, in an environment like IT community and cyber space where it is unending, and ever changing, I should have to keep on studying and researching. True, that even if I have a whole lifetime to study I can not over turn every star of knowledge in a vast IT sky so should be my learning. Doing that shows perseverance to gain success. And lastly open my eyes for any opportunity that may pass my way, and if in a moment that no opportunity is passing my by, I think I could make ways to weave through in and out of place where opportunity lies. There’s no point in just sitting and waiting for it to come. One should not pray for luck instead do anything in one’s power to succeed. At the end of the day, no matter how cheesy must this sound, perseverance and passion for what one does keeps him or in my case, her to succeed in life. PS: Don’t forget to ask guidance from God of course for with Him anything is possible just be sure to combine actions and hard work to one’ prayers.

Rep 2: Problems of Information Systems Planning

Since the class sharing of the first group was fast and brief, the second group comprised of Jonard, Master Jalil and Riza was called upon to deliver their report.

Their topic was addressing the problems in information systems planning. It was divided onto four subtopics namely;

•Alignment of the IS Plan with the organizational plan
•Design of an information System Architecture
•Allocation of Development Resources
•Completion of Projects on time and according to budget

The first two subtopics was delivered by Jonard Laganson while third was by Master Jalil and the last was by the only girl in the group, Riza Gador.

Actually, just like the first group their report was also delivered to well, fast and brief. But then, comparing the two groups I reckon that the second group did better because all of them gave a lot of examples, comments and "tried" (stressing the word again, TRIED), to have us, the audience to take part in their discussion. haha.!!

Rep 1: Evolution of Information Systems Planning

After our professor's "homily" and having all the technical glitches being fixed, the reporters finally proceeded to their class "sharing". The first group, whom consisted of Jaymar (hi mine.!!), Melgar (H2x) and Maria Teresa (Matit, as we fondly call her).

There report is about the eras or time in which an important phase in information systems planning might have occurred or to when and how information system has evolved throughout time.

The report was really just so brief that's why I can't really further expound on the topic like I usually do (defensive.?? jejeje). Its the truth actually, haha.. nice work to the reporters.

A Professor's Homily

Having the reporting finally started today, a lot of technical problems have occurred. While we were waiting for some of our classmates or rather reporters to arrive while fixing some of the technical glitches, our professor started to discuss certain things to us, wherein which we would call it a "homily".

It not about godly things, as one might have derived from our description but its a sort of a review to some items he already discussed to us (of which I wont deny, that I or we forgot already. Talk about short term memory loss).

Just like our last discussion, our professor who was first discussing about where strategic planning started then about the world being flat due to cyber space and later the talks feel on our respective goals and dreams. Its a funny how certain discussion fall into topics that seem poles apart. But I understand that our professor is stating a point in relation to strategic planning not only in one's studies or occupation but also to one's life. He is always keen on asking us about our goals in life, on what do we do to achieve those and are we planning to succeed or not.

Honestly, this topics is one that I try to avoid. Stupid as I may sound but it true. Why? Well, it because our professor is right. I create certain decisions abruptly. I don't spend time to think things over, devise a "bulletproof plan" to make things go the way I wanted smoothly and surely. I guess I am really a spontaneous person in more than one way. I don't want to face the reality that I was planning to fail. Facing such thoughts just tends to freak me out. But then, its now a lesson learned. I should and would plan from now on (I hope).

Also, in this semester, we are to produce a Strategic Plan directed to the Institute of Computing. It aims to devise a plan that will enlighten the faculty, staff and university officials on the problems of the institute and what are the ways that we can address to each problem. He told us to look for the S.W.O.T, which means the Strength, Weakness, Oppurtunities and Threats that the institute and its community is undergoing. Determining such factors can help us to see the things that undermine the growth of the Institute of Computing and create solutions for it.

Also, he discussed the STEEP or PESTE principle to us. This principle refers to Political, Economical, Sociological, Technical and Environmental Issues that we must adhere to in doing our major paper.


It may sound that we really have a serious talk in our class a while a go but actually we were all goofing off since our professor keeps on making jokes that I wouldn't dare to post here (just guess why.. hahaha) and due to some of our comical classmates lead by King George (peace George). To Simon, we may not be that close but condolence on the spermies (joke lang jejeje). All in all, its another fun filled (hmm.. partly) freezing day in school.

..what wiLL I be.???

Questions tends to boggle the mind of people and one of the questions that bewilders me the most is "What do you see yourself doing a few years from now??"..

Why?? Well, its because its about the future, a time a bit far from where or when I am now. I am still student, struggling at that, who endures sleepless nights and sometimes no bath due to overloading projects from my subjects. I am still having a hard time thinking on how to do certain tasks, prepare for quizzes and projects so thinking about things that would occur in the future seems futile for me at this point. "Concentrate on the present and let tomorrow worry about itself", I always say.

So when someone asks me this question, I get kinda queasy, because I have no straight forward answer. But honestly, I really dreamed of working in Google, not only because its an IT haven but also it is the most ideal enterprise to work in the whole world (according to study and survey).

Google is one of the factors that encouraged me to enroll as a BS in Information Systems student in the University of South Eastern Philippines. I thought that if I be an IT professional, I would have a chance to work in Google or Yahoo or be an animator (I am a huge otaku fan.!! hahaha). Any of those jobs would make me really ecstatic.

As I became a full pledge IT student in USEP, I learned a lot of things about computers and programming yet I don't see myself as an expert or knowledgeable about IT or computer stuff. I just feel as if the computer is just someone I am acquainted with and not a close friend which should be the preferable state. Even with all I learned and I know I am going to learn in the university, I realized that its not right to solely dependent on the university I am attending. Though it teaches me all the basics and more of the things I should know about, the IT world is such as wide scope that the four corners of the classroom and the university lab can never conquer.

To be what I want to be, whether it be a Google contributor, programmer or animator, I would embody certain values such as diligence, hard work and having fun with the learning process. Learning either from the university, seminars, tutorials or self study must be undertaken to cover maybe not all but mostly of the IT knowledge that I could gain. In the end, perseverance and will shall lead me to what I will be 5 years from now and hopefully I can be a full pledged IT professional by that time.

"Change We Need"

History now unfolds itself as the strongest country in the world have a newly elected President. What separates this man from his predecessors it that of his color, the first black American president of United States of America, Barack Obama. His victory in the race to be the 44^th American Presidents and on one of the most well fought election battle in the USA marks that change has finally come to America.(Surely, Martin Luther King would be proud.!!)

Found below is the speech, President Barack Obama on the announcement of his victory.

"Hello, Chicago.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

"It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

"It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled, Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

"We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

"It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
"It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment, change has come to America.

"A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain.

"Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

"I congratulate him; I congratulate Governor (Sarah) Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

"I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

"And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.
"Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

"And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

"To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

"And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best - the best political campaign, I think, in the history
of the United States of America.

"To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics, you made this happen and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

"But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

"I was never the likeliest candidate for this office.

"We didn't start with much money or many endorsements.

"Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

"It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give 5 and 10 and 20 to the cause.

"It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy, who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

"It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organised and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

"This is your victory.

"And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

"You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

"Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

"There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

"There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

"I promise you, we as a people will get there.

"There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

"But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

"What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

"This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

"It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

"So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

"Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

"In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

"Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

"Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

"As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

"And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

"To those - to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

"That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

"She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the colour of her skin.

"And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

"At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

"When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

"When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

"She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that 'We Shall Overcome'. Yes we can.

"A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

"And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

"Yes we can.

"America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

"Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America."