Week 7 -- Amazing

This is my last blog entry before I take a two week hiatus for spring break.
This week has been amazing! It's been stressful and crazy, but still amazing. No one really wants to go home, or everyone is having mixed feelings at least. We have grown to be one unit, and it's strange to see that we are all parting ways.  I know that a lot of people don't really stay that close with their high school friends, but I sincerely hope that these 16 other people remain in my life forever. Everyone is amazing and everyone keeps surprising me.
Earlier this week, I wrote in my journal about my life philosophy.  I think that everyone is inherently good, no matter what.  The people I've met and the friends that I've made here reiterate that point to me.  They are all brilliant and remarkable.  Spring break will be weird without them. But also I'm so excited to see my friends from home, and my sisters. It's tough being away from everyone and everything that is familiar to you.  It makes you grow up a lot, which is good though. I definitely needed that. I know that my life is still very sheltered, but by coming here, I'm a little less naive.

Anyway, here's how the week has gone.

Monday:
E&L in the morning -- We were introduced to our social venture project. I'm so excited for it! I know exactly what I want to do for it. We also had Dan Morrison speak to us about his social venture project, Citizen Effect. His insight about starting your own project or whatever was immensely helpful. His story is very intersting. I suggest that you check out his website. Change the world or something.

Tuesday:
I'm pretty sure it was just a regular school day. Although, my laptop broke early in the morning, so  I was unable to finish my english essay. I was stressed, like way more than normal. But since then I've been really chill. I have been a lot more emotional lately. Normally, I bottle things up, but I guess not anymore.

Wednesday:
E&L day! We had 8 speakers. We started the morning talking to three powerful women. After spending last week on the Hill, a lot of the girls had voiced an issue with the weird looks that they had recieved while walking around the Capitol. Personally, I didn't really notice any of this, but I wasn't exactly looking either. First, we talked to Lorelei Kelley who works in national security. Next we talked to Paige Cottingham-Streater who works in US-Japan Relations. Next we talked to Tricia Griffin who is a lobbyist at an all-female firm. They were all amazing and dynamic speakers.
We went out to lunch. I went to Firehook with Will, Everett, and Winson.
In the afternoon, we had a social entreperneurship (sp?) lesson from Tom Adkins who has been a part of 7 start ups in the last 10 years.  He's a very interesting guy and he had a lot of great tips. Finally, we had a panel discussion with 4 social entreperneurs (sp?).  We met with Adam of Dreams for Kids, Jeff who runs an organization that helps get Democrats elected, another guy who runs Climate Lab and with Kate who runs an NGO about climate change and the environment. They were all very intersting people! Noah brings in great speakers.
I had a nice, but brief conversation with Adam. He provided me with a lot of good advice for my social venture project. He really loved my idea! I'm really excited for it! This program just keeps amazing me. The people I meet just keep on amazing me.

Thursday:
Today was an amazing day. Yes, I use the word amazing a lot. I know. But it's just such a fitting word.
It was a pretty normal school day but the weather was, well, amazing. Spring is actually a season. It exists. It's not just a myth. I understood math and I think I did really well on my test! Also, english class was amazing. We went outside and sat in the park and Noah read from our journals. I love journals. They are the best idea ever. Everyone just writes down their thoughts and their stories and their feelings. Noah reads them anonoymously. I just love hearing everyone's voice. After we finished hearing all the journals, we did a Quaker meeting. It was amazing. Everyone was so willing so share their own personal anecdotes, no matter how tough it was for them. What I don't like is how everyone seems to be grappling with some issue when I have none. Although, Megan pointed out to me that I take up everyone's problems, make them my own, and I grapple with those. I try to make everything better.
Later in the evening, we had a networking lesson from Josh. He was really nice and his tips were helpful. After his session, we were thrown into a reception at the school so we could practice our networking. It was great. I met another journalist! Yay! Expanding my network already.
We packed up tonight. I'm having mixed feelings about leaving.

Tomorrow will be strange. We leave for 2 weeks and then come back. And then 9 weeks later we leave again for good. It's a really difficult concept to grasp.

I was feeling particularly inspired tonight. That's why this is so long.
Peace and Love. And I honestly mean it.
See you in two weeks.