On My Mind: A Student Summary of the D.C. Trip

The "On My Mind" series is back from Washington, D.C. and our Spring Break hiatus! Authored by Stanbridge 12th-grader Alix as part of the High School Bridges/Transitions class in-house marketing ​internship program, we invite you to check back regularly for new posts.

From March 31 to April 5, Stanbridge juniors and seniors traveled together to participate in "CloseUp,” a program that teaches young adults about the U.S. government and how it works. This was the sixth time Stanbridge took part in this trip. Beginning in 2009, juniors and seniors at Stanbridge have been given the option to go to Washington, D. C. for the CloseUp program every other year for the Spring experiential.
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On the early morning of Sunday,  March 31, students learned how to deal with the unexpected on a plane, such as layovers due to passengers needing medical attention or flight delays due to bad weather. After a long day on the plane, students were happy to check into the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, and get into comfortable, warm beds. [Stanbridge students roomed with their fellow classmates.] Throughout the week, students visited historic monuments, participated in workshops, and interacted with other students in the Close-Up program – many who were from other states.

On Capitol Hill Day, students met Congresswoman Jackie Speier, and got to take a photo with her. Students also went to the U.S. Capitol, where we observed the Senate in debate up in the galleries. Following Capitol Hill Day, students had dinner at the food court in D.C.’s historic Union Station before enjoying a performance of “Into the Woods” at the Ford Theater. Although we have a few suggestions for future trips, this trip was an overall hit. Participants  encourage all Freshmen and Sophomores to attend the trip when Stanbridge offers it again in 2021!