There once was a young man who was a student at Columbia University. He had never lived in New York City before. It was 1981 and, for a year, he spent his free time walking all around the city.  He was not only interested in seeing famous sights like the Statue of Liberty that many tourists visited, but he also wanted to visit other parts of the city, like Harlem.  Harlem is a famous neighborhood where many black families had lived since the 1920s.  The young man visited historic churches and the Apollo Theater.  He heard Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, give a speech.

On his long walks, the young man kept looking at people. He hoped to find where he fit in.  The young man’s name was Barack Obama.  Tall and skinny with an Afro, he was half white and half black.  Often he felt he didn’t belong anywhere. He was unsure of his future. What would he make of his life?

Back in 1981, if someone had said, “Guess who will be president of the United States in less than thirty years,” Barack would never have said, “Me.”

Yet on January 20, 2009, that is exactly what happened.  Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44^th president.

Imagine how surprised that college kid would be to find himself living in the White House!

Jesse Jackson Barack Obama John Wayne

2. Where is Columbia University?

New York City Los Angeles, California Honolulu, Hawaii

3. What place did the young man visit while he was in New York?

San Diego Apollo Theater The White House

4.  Whom did he hear speak?

Statue of Liberty Dr. Phil Jesse Jackson 

5.  The young man is described as 'half-white' and 'half black'.  How did this make him feel?

excited confident concerned

6.  Where does the young student live now (2014)?

Hawaii The White House New York City