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WASHINGTON, D.C.

TOUR GUIDE: Welcome. Welcome. All right. Let me be the first to welcome you to D.C.. 

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WAUWATOSA WEST HIGH SCHOOL, WISCONSIN 

STUDENT: I love when there’s leaves on trees.

STUDENT: That’s such a Wisconsin statement.

JOURNEYLOVE: This is honestly why I took this class. It’s just a really cool opportunity that not everyone gets. So honestly I’m just really grateful for that.

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SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING

ERIN LINDT: Getting to travel across the country with 30 kids. It’s a whole new bonding experience. I tell them, like, you will never get this experience ever replicated in a classroom ever again.

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SHERIDAN HIGH SCHOOL, WYOMING

MIKE THOMAS: What’s the significance?

MIKE THOMAS (IN INTERVIEW): Bringing kids to Washington, D.C., some of them have never left our town, and some have never flown on an airplane before.

MIKE THOMAS: Everything in D.C. has some sort of symbolism. Okay? The streets that run this way are all state names. There’s Pennsylvania Avenue, there’s Wyoming Avenue to represent federalism and the division of power between the states and the national government. Everything has symbolism, all of it. It’s all done with a purpose. 

ELIAS: In July I will be headed up to basic on my 18th birthday. Everything that I’ve done up to high school has led up to this point.

ERIN LINDT: This time in a kid’s life is intense. In many ways you’re like going through this transition where you’re trying to emotionally prepare yourself for adulthood. Where you’re like trying to find yourself, but you’re also like trying to separate from your old self. 

ELIAS: Is it nice living in D.C.? 

TOUR GUIDE: I love it. Absolutely love it. 

ELIAS: There are so many people here. I love it.

ERIN LINDT: I think Elias, he’s grown into his own this year. I think he’s willing to look at things at face value.

ELIAS: Who’s all getting in?

STUDENT (TAKING A PHOT): ELias! You need to get in!

ERIN LINDT: He’s like, well, I’m going to be active service and I’m going to help my dad afterwards start paying off his house.

ELIAS: I’ve worked for this and now I get to do what I want to do. Cause if you don’t take action now, you’re not going to be able to take action later.

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