To the joy of more than half the nation, Barack Obama has been elected the next president of the United States. His eloquence, charisma, and invigorating ideas have sparked unprecedented interest, and participation, in the American political system. Obama’s rise to this pinnacle of the American power system has been one of many challenges. He defeated a popular senator and former First Lady during a grueling primary, arguably defeating the traditional Democratic establishment in the process. He reached out to parts of the country that long ignored Democrats with an emphatic message of change and thusly altered the political landscape.

He broke down racial barriers by becoming the first African-American to be elected president. To call Obama’s campaign and victory amazing would be an understatement.

While the celebrations will surely continue for days and weeks, Obama is entering the world’s most difficult job at one of the most pivotal times in American history. We are in the midst of a disastrous war, an economic meltdown, and a government that people have little or no faith in.

These, among many others, are monstrous issues that need to be dealt with effectively. The nation has put this responsibility on the shoulders of Obama and an overwhelmingly Democratic congress.

The next four years need to be a period of extreme overhaul, growth, and problem solving. We fully expect the Obama administration to succeed where the Bush administration failed.

The new administration needs to immediately address this financial crisis, boost up the economy, and create much-needed jobs for the country. The American healthcare and education systems are in desperate need of serious change, and global warming is an ongoing problem that needs to be confronted as soon as possible.

The prospect of change in the way America is governed is a brilliant possibility. Analysts expect that the minimum wage will be raised to a reasonable standard, the Iraq war will finally end, and our standing in the world will begin to rise.

While Obama-mania has certainly taken over this country, it’s vital to not let the charisma of a candidate overtake their performance. Lest we forget, Bush was popular once, too.

The beauty of the Obama campaign is that it invigorated millions of people to become active in the political process. Let’s not let this go to waste. We must keep paying attention and staying active to make sure the change so many of us believe in becomes reality.