Washington D.C

As a kid, traveling wasn't always my favorite pastime. In middle school, I loved learning about American history, and one place I always wanted to visit as a kid was Washington, D.C. Every year, I would ask my parents if we could go to D.C., and one year they said yes, so I got to go with my family, and I loved it, but we didn't do nearly as many educational activities as I had planned. I know that many members of my family dislike learning new things when on vacation, but I do, so I was disappointed that we didn't do any of that. But by the time I was in eighth grade, I knew things were going to change. In my community, eighth-graders have the option to travel to Washington with their peers, but they must first complete an application. And I was certain that they would see more museums and locations on this trip than they had on my previous trip with my family, so I applied with confidence and was overjoyed when I was approved. Throughout the journey, I discovered that understanding a place makes it more enjoyable, as I discovered while visiting Washington, D.C. As I visited several museums and memorials honoring former heroes, this tour was significant in developing a desire to travel and learn about things outside of my town. In the future, I hope that many more students have the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C., and study American history as I did.