The Traveling Journal: Life-Changing Moments in Washington D.C.

Traveling and stepping outside of your comfort zone not only helps you learn more about the world, it also helps you learn more about yourself. Student Ambassador Abigail Bemowski took a trip of a life-time with her classmates to D.C. and shared her thoughts on the experience and how it allowed her to grow as a person.

“To begin our trip, we flew into Philadelphia and visited the Rocky Steps. From the top of the stairs, the view of the city was phenomenal and something I will always remember. The next day we toured the Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. As a student who is taking AP Government and Politics, being able to be inside the places where so many of our foundational documents were created was one of the best parts of my trip. Afterwards we drove to Washington D.C. where we would stay the rest of the week.

In Washington D.C., we saw the Washington Monument, which was surreal to see in person. The monument is something you see in pictures and on television, but it’s something I could have never imagined seeing with my own eyes. We also saw many other memorials, but my favorites would be the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the WWII Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam War Memorial. The Vietnam War Memorial was very special to me as my grandpa served in the Vietnam War, earning the Purple Heart Award.

Apart from memorials, my favorite sights would have to be the Ford’s Theater, the Smithsonian American History Museum, the Natural History Museum, Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, the Holocaust Museum, and lastly, the White House.

The best part of my trip was spending time with my friends and getting to know them better. It is more memorable when you get to experience new, life-changing places with your friends. I learned many things on this trip, one thing I learned was how the MLK Memorial represents the wall of despair being cut through by Martin Luther King’s efforts. Most importantly, I learned that I can push through my own personal worries, and by doing so, I can create forever-long values and memories. I experienced many life-changing moments and grew as a person, thank you WorldStrides.”