Article In San Diego Union Tribune About Experience

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/03/students-interest-civics-leads-us-capitol/

Photos

To see all the pictures I took while in Washington D.C. please click on the following link:

http://s224.photobucket.com/albums/dd14/pinkpamperedpup/Washington%20DC/

Week 17: Adventure Comes to an End

            As I am immersed back into my home’s culture I am asked about my experiences, and it’s hard to put into words how something has changed your life. It was somewhat frustrating that we had to spend our last week studying and stressing over finals, but then again I wouldn’t have wanted it to happen any other way.  As I spent my last week in Washington D.C., I realized that everything was a “last” or “final” and that I would never be able to revisit this time in my life ever again. Our last night working late, walking the National Mall and staying up all night trying to study but end up talking to roommates. The last night we spent at the dorm because we weren’t allowed to go out, but it was okay because I had a lot of packing to do and it was nice to have everyone in one place to spend our final night at.  After we were sent to our rooms, Amanda and I wrote each other letters and then we pushed our beds together and read them aloud to each other.  Amanda read hers to me first and about half way through when she started describing how I’ve made a difference in her life tears began to roll down my cheeks.  When she looked over she started to cry too and after a few pieces of tissue she got through the rest of the letter.  When I began to read my letter to her, I was struggling to fight back tears and it took all of my power to get out the words that were written on the page.  After a couple of tries I finally got the words out—that this time next week we would no longer be together, she would still be in DC and I would be in California.  I think that it was really hard to come to the realization that after spending everyday together for the past five months would finally come to an end.  That I would no longer ask her every night who would be taking a shower first, letting her know that I was going downstairs for breakfast or asking her where she wanted to eat that day for lunch.  After we shared a few more tears we watched a slideshow of all of the pictures we’ve taken since we’ve been pages with a playlist of music that we made together for packing playing in the background.  At the end of the slideshow we hugged until the last song was over and went to sleep, a movie type ending to our last night as pages for this semester.  The next day it was open house at our school for parents and the departure ceremony was at 2:30 in the Canon Caucus Room, the same place that we were sworn in at.  The student and congressman speakers were funny and had great insights to offer.  When it came time for certificates to be given out, I approached the clerk to pose for the photographer when all of a sudden someone yelled, “Wait!”  I looked up at my dad who was the only family that I had there and then to my left and there was Congressman Filner walking to stand beside me in my photo.  It was a great moment that really encompassed his outgoing personality and it was an honor to have been selected by him to be a page.  At the end of the ceremony almost everyone was crying and I just walked over to Jerry, Chris and Derek where we talked and laughed about our experiences.  I couldn’t bring myself to cry not only because it didn’t feel like the end but I also couldn’t help but smile at all that we’ve accomplished.  That night my dad and I went out to dinner with Amanda’s parents and then we went back to the hotel and took lots of pictures.  After we hugged goodbye it hit me that I really had no idea when would be the next time that I would see Amanda.  I went up to the hotel room and cried for a while about the things that we would never be able to relive again.  But after a while I knew that everything would be okay and I enjoyed the time that we were able to have together.  The next morning I was able to ride the first plane ride next to my other best friend Derek.  We spent the entire flight talking, listening to music, watching video clips and looking at all the pictures we took in DC.  Derek and I are very alike, we were both part of the handful of pages that didn’t cry at the ceremony, and yet as the plane ride was coming to an end just a few tears were able to escape from our eyes around the same time.  The page program has taught me about our government, work ethic, and friendship.  The power that people hold to have such an impacting difference in my life continues to amaze me and I can’t even put into words how grateful I am for the people that I am privileged to have in my life.  Perhaps the greatest lesson in all of this is to appreciate each day that you’re given and don’t ask for anything more than that.  The page program will forever hold a special place in my heart.  

Thank you all for being so supportive of me and keeping up with these updates.  I hope life’s adventures continue to bring joy and important lessons!

“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians

Week 16: Dance Like It’s the Last Night of Your Life

This past week of work has been consumed with the tragedy that occurred this past Saturday.  The House was only in session to hear testimonies about the thoughts about the shooting that happened in Arizona, many spoke about specific victims and many knew the congresswoman personally.  We also had the honor of attending a prayer ceremony on her behalf.  The Chaplin has an amazing gift of public speaking and gave many words of inspiration and hope.  This is really the last stretch of the page program, from the joyous swearing in of congressmen and changing of the house to become republican, to such a tragedy like this, I have been a baring witness to history being made on the House floor.  This weekend was filled with studying and it was my last weekend in Washington D.C.  On Friday I went with a couple of friends to walk around the National Mall in the crisp January air.  Later, a larger group went to Eastern Market then the rest of the day was all about preparing for the prom.  A couple of girls volunteered to do hair, makeup and nails in their room where they had appointments running all day long.  A friend of mine curled my hair and I did my nails and makeup to match my red colored dress.  To have all 58 of us together dressed so nicely and having so much fun on our last Saturday together had many people in tears by the end of the night.  I couldn’t bring myself to cry because I was just having so much fun with my new best friends and I don’t think that I could come to the realization that this adventure would actually come to an end.  I’m not sure if I’ll cry leaving, but every time I look up at the pictures on my wall I can’t help but smile at all the great times I’ve had here in DC.  Which brings me to Sunday, I spent the day with my best friend Amanda where we began our day at a French Café for breakfast and our afternoon exploring the Capitol, walking the halls that we’ve passed through so many times and then of course cleaning up from the dance the night before.  Then, we spent the afternoon in the Natural History Museum where we had fun going through exhibits, gift shops and seeing what we would look like as Neanderthals.  We spent the rest of the night at dinner with some of the nicest, funniest and most entertaining guys in the page program—Will from Virginia, Jerry from Chicago, Chris from Guam, and Derek from California.  We spent the entire night laughing and talking and at one point I even spit up my water because I couldn’t contain my laughter.  The next day was spent studying all day and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my last weekend in DC.  I am so grateful to have met so many caring and fun people!  I am especially thankful for God bring me such a thoughtful person to me, my best friend Amanda, giving me someone to tackle this “Page Adventure” so that I was not alone. 

“I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands.”  Isaiah 49:15-16

Week 15: The Last Stretch

            This time last week I was just getting back to DC.  Thankfully, time here is going by at a good pace, the days are going by slower, but that may be due to the fact that we go to sleep so late and wake up so early.  If I could ask for one more thing in life to have more time—the time to appreciate all of the wonderful blessings I am given and time to reflect upon every small event and person and truly understand the purpose and meaning that little everyday interactions means.  This week we were asked to write 120 words and provide 3 pictures for our yearbook pages and it has been the most challenging assignment that I’ve had since I’ve been here.  To summarize a life changing experience such as this one in such few words and select such few moments through photographs is nearly impossible to do.  This program has changed my life, teaching me things I didn’t know about myself, and I’m sad for it to end in just two short weeks.

            On Tuesday we were able to witness the congressmen take oath into office and see the changing of powers through the passing of the gavel from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the new majority leader and speaker John Boehner.  I really like Nancy Pelosi’s speech where it focused on the unity between congressmen whether they’re democrat or republican for this 112^th congress.  Also something very exciting that happened this week was that I was able to collect statements for congressmen speaking about the Health Care Bill.  On both sides they argued that it would be very costly and they were debating more specifically about repealing the Health Care Act already in place.  This weekend we spent both Friday and Saturday nights ice skating, and after a few tricks came some falls and bruises, but there’s nothing like ice skating when you can see your breath and also with such great people.  It’s challenging to convey the interactions and conversations I have with others, but it’s just incredible how we are never at a loss of words; it is astounding to walk by the capitol to the dorm and to be able to call this home. 

“If you remain in Me and My words reamain in your, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”  John 15:7