An exciting first day in D.C.! It started out with a quick trip to the Smithsonian. My favorite exhibit was the one with past and present "Vote" posters. It was awesome to see how Americans got the message out in the past about an issue that is just as important today as it was then.

Next, some of the girls and I went to the Holocaust Museum. The outside of the building boasted a poster that read, "Think about what you saw," and the museum made me do just that. We walked through "Daniel's Story," which allowed us to experience the world of a young Jewish boy during the Holocaust. We also walked through an exhibit about Nazi propaganda. That got me really interested because it made me think about the ethics of media and consider the mindset of the people drawn to Hitler's beliefs. In unstable times, people are vulnerable, and those who have power or rise to positions of power bear a great responsibility. I think that is an important message for the U.S.A. to remember today, too.

Overall, my first day in D.C. has made me feel blessed to be an American. I drew pride from exhibits of our country's rich history in the Smithsonian, and felt comfort after walking through the Holocaust Museum. My dad's side of the family is Jewish (if you couldn't tell by my last name), so it was a sad, but grateful feeling to know that in this beautiful country, I will never have to endure the pain or hatred my ancestors faced in Germany.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Ali Edelstein