For Virginia General Assembly freshman legislators John A. Cosgrove and Winsome Earle Sears, the vote is unanimous: their experience from their first session in the world's oldest, continually meeting body was nothing short of awe inspiring.

The Old Dominion alumni - Cosgrove received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering technology in 1985 and Sears, a bachelor's in English in 1992 - were sworn into office Jan. 9 for a two-year term as members of the House of Delegates.

Cosgrove, of Chesapeake, who represents the 78th District, and Sears, of Norfolk, from the 90th District, joined two other Old Dominion alums in the General Assembly, longtime delegates Kenneth R. Plum '65 of Reston and Harry R. "Bob" Purkey '68 of Virginia Beach.

"After I won [the election], nothing felt different," recalled Sears, who made history as the first black Republican woman ever elected to the Virginia General Assembly. "It didn't hit me until we were sworn in, all 100 of us."

Cosgrove, also a Republican, agreed. "It was extremely humbling. I had an incredible sense of awe and wonder," he said, noting that the General Assembly first met in 1619. "To take the oath of office and join that lineage is an extraordinary honor voters bestowed upon me."

It didn't take long for both legislators to confirm that their new roles would be challenging.

"I thought we'd have a reception and a lunch following the swearing-in ceremony. No. We went right to work. We spent eight hours on the floor!" said Sears, who realized a lifelong ambition that day.

Born in Jamaica and raised in New York City, Sears grew up in a household in which political discussions and avid newspaper reading were the norm.

"We talked politics all the time. My grandmother was politically astute," she recalled. "Since I was a girl, I always knew I would be in politics."

After high school, Sears served three years in the Marine Corps. Later, she moved to Norfolk with her husband, Terence, and decided to return to school and pursue her dream of entering politics.

At Old Dominion, the nontraditional, mother-of-three student got her first taste of office as a student senator. "I did that because I saw a lot of apathy. [I thought] there must be some feeling of commitment, community that I could encourage."

Following graduation, Sears became active in the community, as PTA vice president at Larchmont Elementary School, adult literacy manager for VISTA Volunteers, coordinator of the Hampton Roads Workforce 2007 educational program, and manager of Leadership Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Education Leadership Academy, among other roles. Most recently, she directed the Salvation Army's women's shelter in Chesapeake.

"I've learned from all those experiences," said Sears, 38, who defeated veteran legislator Billy Robinson Jr. in last fall's election.

While Sears became a full-fledged politician almost overnight, Cosgrove has been steadily climbing the political ladder for nearly a decade.

He began his push into politics in 1996 when he was asked to run for mayor of Chesapeake. He narrowly lost to incumbent William E. Ward, but was elected to Chesapeake City Council in 1998. His political career has been a steady succession since.

In addition to serving as vice mayor of Chesapeake, Cosgrove has had stints as chairman of the Fourth Congressional District Republican Committee, chairman of the Chesapeake Republican City Committee and executive committee member of the Republican Party of Virginia.

An engineer by trade and a Naval Reserve officer, Cosgrove, 48, said he received some of his inspiration for community service from his professors.

"I got very good tools at Old Dominion. Our instructors were very active in their communities and that was a good example to us," he said, naming recently retired engineering professor Bill Stanley as a particularly important influence. "He is a brilliant but compassionate man."

As freshman legislators, both Cosgrove and Sears acknowledge there was a big learning curve their first session in office, but both agree that their new roles provide them an opportunity to make a difference in their communities.

"The work is fairly intensive, but it's an honor to be able to contribute something positive to the community and represent my constituents in Richmond," Cosgrove said.

Sears notes that the most rewarding aspect of being a legislator is "knowing that I can effect positive change in people's lives."

With their first session behind them, both Sears and Cosgrove are looking forward to returning to Richmond next January when the General Assembly reconvenes. Until then, they are back in their home districts, meeting with constituents and getting on with their nonpolitical lives. Cosgrove is marketing director and engineer for Global Technical Services, a Virginia Beach/Chesapeake company, and Sears is completing a master's program in organizational leadership at Regent University.