Eight students and two chaperones traded textbooks for the historic stage as they witnessed the Inauguration of the forty-seventh president, Donald Trump.
Students attended the Close Up Foundations trip to Washington, D.C., from Thursday, Jan. 16 – to Wednesday, Jan 22.
“The students [were] grouped with other politically engaged students from across the country, so they really [got] exposed to a lot of varying perspectives, work[ed] together and talk[ed] about some very important current issues that the country is facing,” chaperone Kate Lyons said.
The student’s itinerary included the Smithsonian National Museums, presidential and war memorials. A tour of the capitol was arranged through Josh Hawley’s office, which included viewing a senate debate in the senate gallery.
“That was one of the most significant learning moments because we got to watch [the] government in action and be right there for it. It was a great experience for kids to be exposed to and also encounter how different people reacted to viewing the ceremony,” Lyons said.
Due to inclement weather, the in-person inauguration camp tickets at the outdoor venue were canceled.
“That was something that we had to adjust to on the fly, but our administration is so supportive of these authentic learning experiences that they were instrumental in helping make this trip happen,” Lyons said.
Adjustments were quickly made so the group could view the inauguration on a screen indoors.
“[It] was disappointing having [the in-person inauguration] canceled, but it ended up being okay, and we got to do other stuff, like seeing the Senate, which we were there in the room for,” junior Amelia Lewis said.
While in D.C., the students were exposed to politics firsthand in settings ranging from protests to historical galleries.
“It was great to see all the people that work towards maintaining our democracy. Students were completely immersed in government and got to see how democracy works from the heart of America. They [got] to see at all different levels of people working and engaged in politics and government, and those are the people making our democracy work,” Lyons said.
The political aspects of the inauguration were outshined by the connections students made with others who had different ideas and experiences.
Students demonstrated a commitment to peaceful expression and respectful dialogue, even in the face of potential conflict.
“People were very open to just talking. Most of the people were very passionate about current issues and events. It was cool to be surrounded by so many people who care. It’s a nonpartisan organization that we were there with, so they encouraged us to be respectful and talk through our beliefs instead of having conflict,” Lewis said.
The opportunity allowed students passionate about history to get a glimpse into our country’s political scene.
“Down the line, I would be interested in going into politics, especially from the inaugural address. It was a great way to see all different parts of Washington, DC, [and] meet kind people from all over the country. I think it is a great opportunity, especially if you’re interested in current events or politics,” Lewis said.
