Today was our first day back in, as my classmate put it, “the real world.” We are all beyond exhausted. We arrived at WA last night around 11:15, then got up early for school the next day. I saw Maya, Karin, Catrina, and Andrew this morning; we all had huge dark circles under our eyes and stories to tell about our teachers’ reactions to the homework we hadn’t done. Nearly everyone I saw asked how the Inauguration was, and I found myself cycling through words like “awesome,” “great,” “fun,” and “exciting.” Our trip is worthy of so much more than that, but I don’t think there even are words to describe the time we had.
History was after lunch today, and Mr. Bill and I were practically passed out on the tables. Everyone was talking over each other about their day, and all Mr. Bill and I wanted to do was climb back in the van and head back to DC, and then possibly take a very long nap. Getting into the old routine again is torture after four days of hopes, dreams, and change.
I am sitting at home as I write this, in a room strewn with things I brought with me to and took back from DC. I cannot bring myself to put everything away, because that would mean our adventure is over, and the real world is, well, boring.
I skipped practice today due to exhaustion, and I came home planning to sleep. Instead, I am writing this. I can’t let go of this trip, let go of the all the hopes, dreams, and change. Because the real world is tedious and dull.
There is a glimmer of hope, however, and it has a name. That name is Obama, and I can’t wait for the hopes, dreams, and change to spill over into this monotonous “real world” we live in. Then maybe the atmosphere of DC at the time of the Inauguration will be something we all feel every day. Maybe that atmosphere will become “the real world.”
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
David Bill 01.22.09 at 5:09 pm
This is exactly why we organized this trip. We hoped to inspire and motivate y’all and I am SO glad that this trip had the impact it did. That means as much to me as being in DC itself. Thanks to you and your peers. I hope that all of you hold on those “hopes, dreams, and change” because it is those ideas that will make the larger impact as you mature and become the future leaders of this world.
Antonio Viva 01.22.09 at 7:33 pm
You guys did an amazing job and should be really proud of your work! Be sure to catch up on some much needed rest. As for Mr. Bill, be ready to turn your attention to EduCon! See you at 7:30 am!