On April 30, 1789, the first Inauguration Day in American history, George Washington took the first oath of office. Sworn in at our nation’s first capital, New York City, Washington later said of his new role, “I walk on untrodden ground.” Our country’s first president experienced the rollercoaster of the first Inauguration Day himself. He might have been nervous. Maybe he was worried if his tie matched.

Believe it or not, President-Elect Donald Trump is soon to be in the same position George Washington once was. President Barack Obama is about to pass the torch to his Republican successor. A lot of people are going to be very pleased and a lot of others are going to be very displeased.

Those planning to watch or protest Trump’s inauguration celebrations should arrive in D.C. prepared to maneuver through lots of security, including thousands of law enforcement personnel, National Guard forces, pop-up fences and cement-laden trucks.

NPR ballparked that anywhere from 700,000 to 900,000 spectators are set to attend the Inauguration ceremony. It’s estimated that 99 different groups are expected to rally in favor of or against our new president.

Point Park student media has been given the opportunity to experience firsthand the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States. This is not an invitation we  take for granted. We understand how vast this opportunity is; and as journalists, we understand the weight of this opportunity in its fullest effects.

WPPJ, U-View and the Globe are the student media trifecta set to head out to the capitol. Student reports, photographers and broadcasters have been prepping for weeks — formulating coverage plans for an all-day, two-fold journalistic endeavor — starting with the swearing-in ceremony and concluding with the parade.

This Friday, let us learn from what we see and hear, regardless of how we feel.

It feels easy to be disheartened as a journalist in 2017, especially with the seemingly endless pool of dangerous rhetoric surrounding media professions. What we must remember is that we are truth seekers first and reporting the facts should always come first.

Whether you plan to attend the Presidential Inauguration as a journalist, an activist or simply as a spectator, remember that you are a student first. It is significant to stress the importance of  respecting everyone in attendance regardless of if their reason for being there aligns with your own.