Posted Tuesday, January 20, 2009 --- 3:25 p.m.

Many local students took a break Tuesday to watch President Obama take the oath of office.

But these young people say they understand what the nation's new president wants them to do in this "new era of responsibility" in America.

Almost all eyes were focused on televisions rather than textbooks Tuesday morning at MATC.

"I got a funny feeling my 11:00 am got cancelled judging from the looks of this place so," Spencer White says.

The cafeteria crowd overflowed -- many people overwhelmed by emotion watching the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

"When he first took his oath, I started crying ... had tears in my eyes because for me, being the age I am, 32, I probably will never see another black, African-American president again," Aisha Redus says.

Sabrina Madison is a student and community projects coordinator at MATC.

"We can't just leave it up to him... It's still up to us."

She says the president's supporters helped to elect him. But it's still up to citizens to help fulfill his message of change.

"I'm just begging you, don't let it be about today. Please make it about tomorrow. Go out there, figure out what's your passion and do something to get involved and change somebody's life," Madison says.

President Obama: "Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off ... "

Student Aisha Redus says President Obama's election already has inspired her.

"Actually it made me pursue the things I want to do in my life, let me know there's nothing that can stop me, no matter what," Redus says.

During his speech, the president reminded Americans of the many challenges ahead... challenges met by working together.

"It's gonna be a long journey and President Obama is a catalyst for change, but he's a catalyst for us all working together to improve our state and our country," State Rep. Joe Parisi says.

... during what the president calls a new era of responsibility ...

"Keep striving, keep going ... think about the words he said today and just keep going," Redus says.