FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ohio — The inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris broke many glass ceilings.
Harris became the nation’s first female, first Black and first Asian American VP. As the 56-year-old daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, was sworn in, the impact was felt in Ohio.
"Kamala Harris is a Black, Indian woman and my mother is also an Indian woman," 7-year-old Rohan Plowgian gushed.
There was a wide range of emotion felt across the country during the ceremony, but at Kavitha Kotha’s house in central Ohio, the only emotion was unbridled joy.
"When it was happening, what I did was, 'Aaahhhh!'" 9-year-old Tejas Plowgian exclaimed. "We were dancing while they were doing the oath, and at one point, Rohan was putting his hand up and taking the oath with Kamala Harris."
"I think it was important to share with them," Kavitha, Tejas and Rohan’s mother, said. "They are young boys who can achieve whatever they want, so showing them that was really powerful."
Kotha grew up in Westlake before moving with her family to the Columbus area. She remembers being a kid and only dreaming of a day she’d see someone that looked like her achieve something like this. Now, she got watch her two sons see it with their own eyes.
"For the first time, seeing someone like me, it was cool to share those moments with the boys and explain to them the power and the magnitude of everything that was going on," she said.
It was a big event for their family that was celebrated throughout the day. They made special dishes giving nods to Harris' roots, like Masala Dosa, Pav Bhaji and Jamaican Curry Chicken.
However, for dessert, it was apple pie. They used it as symbolism for America, where Kavitha now believes her two sons can not just dream like she did, but achieve the highest offices in the land. That is, if they want to.
"I want to be a zoologist when I grow up," Rohana says.
"I’m not quite sure, but I want to do something that has to do with nature," Tejas adds. "Although, being the president wouldn’t be too bad."