I really can’t believe that this was my last full day here. Its just indescribable. I finally got to have a hot drink (Chai) from Starbucks, and I might run over to the bookstore in just a little.

Our day wasn’t that early, but we went and divided into our color groups. Timm talked about our rights with us and explained some very important cases from the Supreme Court that was relevant to our next talk and our first amendment rights.

As we listened to Frank Lomonte the executive director of the Student Press Law Center who helps students with their first amendment rights in school. I found out that unlike I had previously thought, we do have first amendment rights in school, however, they are restricted. We then heard from Micheal Dickerson about being interns, becoming interns and what it means.

Next we traveled to the Capitol. We ate at the station, and then I began walking with my friends to the Capitol building. Around 9 of us were able to take a quick tour around the building with a security guard. It was amazing and unfortunately my camera died in the middle of it.  The House was in session so after walking all around our guard left us watching the House. I then had to leave for my appointment with Senator Barrasso.

It was a ten minute walk over, and I, forgetting my dress had pockets holding my cell phone, had to go through the security scanner four times. I then went up to the Senator’s office, and waited. Soon two of his aides, took me up to the committee he was in. We waited and in that time Senator Barrasso’s speech maker dropped off two speeches. Senator Barrasso then came out and we quickly took a picture and then we were off. He had a speech to give over in the capitol building. I was allowed to ride over on the shuttle with the Senator while we talked. He then dropped me and his aide Chris over in the Senate Gallery. I was allowed to sit in the gallery side where the public wasn’t allowed. Senator gave his speech on the budget and how it needs to be balanced and how we shouldn’t raise the ceiling (yay!).  I then had to go back to the group and we took a group picture before coming back to the dorms so that we could get ready for the gala tonight.

I had a great time at the Capitol and I loved meeting Senator Barrasso. One more morning left :’( I will be happy to go home and sleep in my bed, however I wish I could stay here for longer and see everything. D.C. has been wonderful and I truly love that I was invited to the Journalism conference, I learned more than I thought, and I can’t wait for more.

~K

Today was the 6:45 a.m. leave time. I jumped out of bed with barely any time to get ready (as it seems to have become habit of late). I made it down in plenty of time, however many did not, and one of my group was still asleep at the time we were supposed to be leaving.

We arrived all very tired for our morning taping of C-Span. Many of the students were having panic attacks that he would call on them or make fun of them during the taping as we were told he might. It all went smoothly and both guest speakers were very interesting, although not many would agree with me on the second speaker Mr. Tucker Carlson for he is a fox news reporter and too ‘political’ as one person told me. Personally I loved listening to him. From the 8:30 to 10 am taping I only had to be nudged once when I started dozing, thought that was impressive.

We then had Q and A with Brian  Lamb the creator of C-Span, It was very interesting, he debated with us about the Journalist’s Creed that can be found and the National Press Club. It was very high speed and high tension. Then we got to talk to Josh Earnest the Deputy WH Press Secretary, and Special Assistant tot he President. It was informative and somewhat enlightening to me, even if I did not enjoy it as much as Mr. Carlson.

We then traveled to the Mall, and ate lunch. I then quickly toured the Aerospace and aeronautics Museum and the Art Museum of the Smithsonian. They were both very large and I was sad that I could not see all of the Museums, nor all of the Museums that I did see. It was raining when we finished and ended up waiting in the rain for a 1/2 an hour for our buses.  We then had dinner back at the main campus and sat down to listen to the main reporters of Chandra Levy case, really really amazing. Also talked with Dean of Admissions, Mr. Flagel. He was amazing funny, and rational. Under the hysterical laughing, we all got to hear his point of view of pursuing a college how to get in, and how to find out which college is right for you. He defiantly made my night.

There goes my wanting to fall asleep before 1… oh well Sen. Barrasso will simply get overly giddy me. G’night!

~K

Last night we did not get in until 11:10ish, and we had a very busy schedule. Being tired and knowing that our earliest day was today… I just went to bed. This however, is what happened.

I already talked about the PR talk we had, directly after that we traveled to the National Press Club, ate and talked with the President of the National Press Club. After that we then talked with a panel of three journalists: Chuck Todd, Jonathan Matin, and Jessica Yellin. The were amazing and the topics they discussed were very controversial, they spoke of many topics and then gave us their opinions on how the race will turn our… I really hope that an independent does not enter the race (nothing against independents, however the predictions made on how that would affect the race have already been proven several times over, including the Clinton election.)

 Then after we talked with Hoda Kotb. I had no clue who she was, what she did, or if she was just another talking head. The answer is no. Hoda was a brilliant speaker, very interested in everything we had to say, and wanted to know that life while not fair, will be a challenge that will better you through the hard times. She was inspirational and laid back and completely at ease with who she is, I can truly see why so many look up to her as an icon.

Dinner that night was ok… although the chicken was pink…. chicken should never be pink, I think my table overall found around 6 pieces of unhealthily pink chicken. I ate the last two anyway because I was so hungry.

We then listened to an alumni panel that had really great histories, but I loved the moonlight monument tour. I was disappointed that we didn’t have longer, my flash seemed horrible, and that the White House was closed, but it was still a great memory for me. It was tiring and brutal however, and this was yesterday.

~K

Really interesting, if you want to check out find socialnomics on youtube!

~K

I can not even begin to describe how quickly things have moved. We started off with an amazing trip to the Newseum. This place was six stories tall, and just beautiful. Outside in the front the 1st amendment is quoted and the quote is as tall as the building. However, that wasn’t the best part. The entire building was full of amazing artifacts.

On the bottom was the FBI’s biggest criminal stories over the past century, including the unibomber and the D.C. sniper. The Unibomber’s cabin was even in the building. On the other side of the bottom floor was 8 very large pieces of the Berlin Wall and behind them was one of the guard towers. Only one side of the wall had graffiti on in… but it was totally covered. They also had the sign saying you were out of the american sector. In between these two there was the cafeteria, and all of the pictures of the year.

The next floor up had the gift shop,and the 4-D theater. It also held all of the Pulitzer photographs. Many of which were so disturbing and horrifying it showed the real grim out look of reality. However, while most were a showing of how cruel life can be, they were touching, inspirational and they really made you think. Even though those photos were horrid, they were in the moment showing the truth of reality, and they also gave insight into things we do not usually see.

 The second floor had the interactive studio, and a racial ethics center. The third floor holds the Knight Studio, and several other exhibits, which i did not get to see. The fourth floor was as saddening as the Pulitzer photos, for it holds the 9/11 exhibit. Even though i was alive and fully aware of what was going on, I don’t believe I ever really realized what had happened.

 I was in first grade when the twin towers fell, and I watched on TV with everyone else, however, exactly how can you explain that to a six-year-old? I knew what it meant growing up, and I’ve lived with the repercussions of the tragedy. I myself, have gone to New York City twice in the past six/seven years. I have seen the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, and I know that many who lost their lives were never found, and that those who helped in the rescue have developed illnesses, but today everything really hit me. I was watching the video of all the reporters, of the towers coming down, and it just hit me.  Of course i’d seen the many pictures and i watched on the news what had happened all those years ago, but i had not (recently) seen the video of the towers falling. It was devastating, and that staid with me all day.

On the fifth floor was the History of News, and unfortunately i missed the exhibit. The top level of the building, was all about hurricane Katrina. Like the 9/11 exhibit, while i was alive, and fully conscious of what was going on, I really didn’t seem to understand the politics and the delays that caused the victims. It seems so surreal to me that ,while it doesn’t sound like a lot, the entire group saw the museum in five hours. 

When we returned to campus, we split into our color groups (Go Purple!!!) led by our amazing leader Timm, and talked. My group mostly talked about the pictures and the films that were at the Newseum. Dinner came quickly and then we were split into several smaller groups to listen to two different speakers.

Our first speaker was Andrew Finn, a professional speaker. He talked to us about the do’s and don’t's of public speaking, and he gave us a lot of insight into what goes into an impromptu speech. Next I got to listen to Michael Shears, the husband of our WJMC leader, and New York Times journalist. Michael is a political journalist and he follows those running for president around, and he is also a part of the staff of journalists that the president speaks to. The talks were amazing, and after all of this Purple gathered in our lounge, and we had a mass facebook friending session, and during that time I also set up a Twitter account to keep in touch with everyone.

Busy Busy day, with one to follow tomorrow. We all get to dress up and go to the National Press Club, which after reading about sounds pretty swanky and important. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

~K

Wow so today was really crazy!! I flew all the way out to D.C. by myself, not as scary as I thought it would be. D.C. is so big! I mean I knew it was huge but to see it for myself for the first time is crazy! Turns out I was the last person to fly in so we were a little late for check in, but it wasn’t horrible.

I am in the purple group, who is led by our awesome man Timm. I felt so comfortable here by the end of the night. Can’t wait to see what is to come!! Tomorrow and the Newseum will be amazing. Also wanted to shout out to Chris Cillizza who writes the Fix, his speech to us tonight was great, and its awesome to know that you don’t always start out where you’ll end up in life, but you often find out where you really want to be.

Well that’s it for the night!

-K

Just got back from Girls State yesterday! I was amazing… alright i’m off to explore!

~K~

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