Saturday June 24, 2006

This afternoon, I drove in from Baltimore, MD to Georgetown University for the start of National Recognition Week, a time to celebrate educational accomplishments, specifically the Presidential Scholars Program. Though the drive was undoubtedly less exciting than the cross country flights that my fellow scholars were on, I still felt great anticipation for the program. On arriving at the New South Residence at Georgetown and unpacking, I met with some of the other scholars including my roommate from Indiana. The best thing about events that celebrate accomplishment is not the award or recognition, but the chance to meet old friends and make new friendships. The Presidential Scholars Program certainly had both facets as I saw familiar faces from various other gatherings (e.g. Coca-Cola Scholars). That our parents and teachers stayed at hotels while we stayed in the dorms allowed us the chance to bond with one another.

You look familiar? Coa-Cola Scholars reunited for the Presidential Scholars Program.

Within hours of settling in, we had the Presidential Scholars orientation at Georgetown's Intercultural Center Auditorium where we got to meet the program directors as well as our advising group leaders who are responsible for keeping track of us. The basic I absorbed was that that the presidential scholars program represents the highest level of federal recognition to students and signifies the government's trust in us to take care of the future and to help better the world. We were told to keep an open mind in meeting new people, especially public officials with the apparent implication to be fair-minded and respectful towards President Bush during our much anticipated meeting with him.

Right after the orientation, we got into our advisor groups, which were arranged by state (my group had Michigan, Maryland, and Missouri - a few of the "M" states). Being a Michigan Presidential Scholar and having stayed in Maryland during the summer, I felt right at home in the group and enjoyed my fellow scholars' companionship. Together, we all boarded charter buses for a trip to the Scholar/Alumni/Advisor Welcome Reception at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, which exhibits, you guessed it, the postal service in its many forms and stages. For the most part, this opportunity was for scholars to socialize and mingle and introduce ourselves to other scholars, alumni, and advisors. Thus, despite the postal plane hanging off the ceiling and the U.S. Postal Mail truck sitting in exhibit, we didn't get the chance to thoroughly look at any displays.

After the dinner and introductions, we were bussed back to the Georgetown dorms for some ice breakers in an informal environment before sleep in the nice (i.e. air conditioned) rooms, knowing that more exciting events would follow in the morning.