DC Trip

My name is Rina. I’m a junior at Olney Friends School. A few weeks ago, a wonderful opportunity happened for me.

I was able to visit the nation’s capital, the city of Washington DC, and only pay for the subway. This was with my teacher, Roger Reynolds, and peers Davis Marklin, Kima Bennett, Rachel Logan-Wood, Will Reynolds, and Bojana Nešović. Why? The student-made films The Real Crime of America and What If…? were chosen as finalists in a competition, the IHTD film festival. This competition asked students to consider the one trillion dollars spent on the US military, the one trillion dollars spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the one trillion plus in tax cuts for wealthy Americans today.

But not only this — also to consider what they would do with this money. How would they use this money to affect the world? This answer was to be explained in three minutes. Once there, we discussed budgets and spending. We met with legislators on this. Also, we participated in a meeting with queries connected to the films. We were immersed with culture, people, long discussions, and more. It began with a long train ride, from Pittsburgh to DC, from dawn until early afternoon. From then, a blur. Lincoln memorial, Viet Nam memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, the White House, the Capitol building, Union Station, live music, dancing, and more. I am very lucky to have had this experience. 

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