Lizzie - I am New Orleans

“THEY DID IT! THE SAINTS WON THE SUPER BOWL!” As I heard these words from the television screen, I couldn’t help but join my fellow peers in screaming, jumping for joy, and dancing in the streets. As the whole nation knows, the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV for the first time in their entire 45 years of existence. What the whole nation doesn’t know is how happy all the people of New Orleans were. As we won, the entire city was in the streets, crying, hugging, and celebrating the win. I remember that night perfectly, and how when I walked out onto the streets with my friends, everyone was just dancing and cheering. As we walked outside, we ran to one of the local bars across the street from my friend’s house. Everyone who was there was outside hugging each other, cheering that the Saints had won. As cars came down the streets, one would hear honking horns, people chanting the famous phrase, “Who Dat?!,” and singing the famous Saints anthem, “Halftime,” by the Ying Yang Twins. Trying to get around the city was nearly impossible, for there was literally bumper to bumper traffic. There was no moving, but no one even cared. All of the sudden, it didn’t matter who anyone of us was anymore. It wasn’t just a win for the Saints; it was a win for the whole city. It gave everyone hope that no matter how many times people say that you can’t do it, with a lot of hard work and effort, anything is possible. For years, the Saints had been called “The Aints,” and that night, we proved to the country that we could go for the gold, and win it all. The victory of the Saints wasn’t just about winning the Super bowl; it was about bringing the city together. I’m not sure how many people I hugged that night, or who I hugged, necessarily, but it was one of the greatest nights of my life. I’m so glad that I got to be a part of that experience, and it is one that I will never forget.

The reason why this makes me New Orleans is not because of the Saints winning the Super Bowl, but it is because of the experience I had with the city. In no other city would random strangers be hugging each other, or even waving and saying hello to each other on a daily basis, just to put a smile on someone’s face. As the Saints won, I couldn’t help but feel so connected with everyone in the city, even with complete strangers. It was as if the fact that we didn’t even know each other didn’t matter. That night, we all became one as a city. Experiences like that is part of the reason why New Orleans is so unique and special, and it is one that makes me proud to say I am from New Orleans, Louisiana.

Lizzie, age 16