On Oct. 23rd, students, and alumni of West Philadelphia High School traveled to Washington DC for our first school trip of the year! It was a bright sunny day and we had a blast enjoying each other and exploring our nation’s capital. Promise Corps coaches served as chaperones along with other school staff. 

We started the day at 6am while the moon was still out. Students arrived at school and collected their breakfast and bagged lunches at the cafeteria. There was lots of great energy as we greeted each other in our outdoor gears and chatted in anticipation of the trip. Soon, buses arrived and off we went to Washington DC. 

We arrived late morning at the heart of the National Mall, a beautiful park home to iconic landmarks including the Lincoln memorial, US Capitol, and the White House. Students had selected to tour one of the famous Smithsonian Museums: the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, and the African American History Museum. After joining together for several large group photos, we organized ourselves into museum groups and headed off.

Walking around the National Mall was a delight! Students held hands and joked with each other while taking in the beauty all around. There was classical architecture, parks lush with greenery, and very tempting food trucks. It was a very welcome change of scene, topped with fresh air and sunlight. 

The next few hours saw what we had been waiting for: museum tours! Each was an exhilarating adventure. There was so much to see and learn. There were breathtaking exhibitions and unique stimulation. We admired the historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific treasures our country has to offer. We got busy arming ourselves with knowledge and souvenirs.

The groups met all together again at the Lincoln memorial and share stories of what we saw at the museums. Before heading back, we had dinner at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. At 5:30pm, we boarded the buses back, exhausted and happy. Time to get a nap in and prepare to go back to school. It had been a very special day for us at West Philadelphia High!

– Ivy Tse, College and Career Coach at West Philly High