Get Up: Joe Biden's Inspiring Message to a New Generation by Raquel Whiting

On a frigid evening in Boston in 2017, my friend and I found ourselves jumping up and down with cold and excitement. We were in line for the Joe Biden: American Promise Tour, during which the former vice president discussed his new book, Promise Me Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship and Purpose. As college students, we were among the youngest in attendance and therefore Biden’s message took on a slightly different meaning for us.

Biden talked with great emotion about the passing of his son, Beau Biden, and the toll it took on him amidst a tumultuous time in politics with the added intrigue of whether he would run for president in 2016. While the entirety of his talk was captivating, his tangible passion for making our country a better place was truly inspirational. My takeaway was the need for our country to “get up” – a battle cry he got from his father.

This is not a time to wallow in what is going wrong in our country, but rather a time to recognize the positive aspects and to strive to improve what we can. As a 20-year-old, I understand that my generation will have great influence on the path our country takes, and I am ready to “get up” and effect positive change.

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