Razan Alaqeel's

Walking on the footsteps of history. Marching together to reach success. Singing the song of courage. Talking in the universal language of peace. Smiling to the reflection of accomplishment. Laughing to let the happiness express itself with loudness. Shivering with cold that turns into joyful warmth. Capturing moments which turn into the sources of memories. Living in the present, and for the present, on the greatest footsteps of the past.  Today was Capitol Hill Day, the day when we all use the knowledge of our exchange year in talking with our host state's Senators, Representatives, and their staff members. We put on our formal clothes in the morning with one hundred different schedules for each one us with multiple people for our several states. My first meeting required my to walk for fifteen minutes to reach its located office, and as I walked I couldn't help myself but stop running for a second to seriously appreciate my present. I was standing in the middle...

A warm dress pants, a very formal shirt that must be ironed to perfection, and a blazer to complete to the professional look that shall last for one whole day. Looks really do matter, because they resemble not only personalities, but also cultures and backgrounds. They speak of an event, and build professionalism.  This is how my day was, a morning of inspiration, an afternoon of history, and a night of basketball.  The words of our morning speaker reached my heart, the history reached my brain as it tried to remember most of the information for my AP American History Class, and the basketball's energy reached my soul.  We were told to dress professionally, and so we did. Every participant looked very professional in the morning, and then we went to our first destination: The State Department.  The building was so big, and as we waited to be escorted to the conference room, I noticed the offices from the windows, and I thought to myself that tha...

The history shall always remind the free living of the legacy of those who died fighting for their freedom. The strong statements will always remind the young and old of the wisdom of their ancestors. The memorials will always stand as they resemble their nation's history with all of its events and people. One district, one place, and one hill was carrying a great heritage which amazed 100 students from all around the world by all of its different places that united in one word throughout centuries; freedom.  My second day in the Washington D.C. was very busy with many visits to different places that literally taught me a lot as I shivered out of the cold weather that NC didn't prepare me for that well. We started our day by going to the Newseum which is a six stories tall museum that deals with the history of the news. We began our visit with a very interesting presentation about Religious Liberty in the United States, and I was very impressed by the speaker. B...

Above the ground, in the sky, and besides the sun. This is how my morning started, very early and active, filled with many expectations for this week as Washington D.C. was preparing a unique adventure for me.  Sleeping for three hours and waking up  at 3 am  was not the greatest thing in the world. Yet as I walked in the airport all by myself for the first time ever I realized that every kid grows as I had my father's annual airport instructions playing in my head.  Walking into an achieved dream made me realize once more that the power of dreaming and believing in ourselves is indescribable.  My program manager Michelle Blackburn mentioned in my arrival orientation that there will be a workshop held in Washington D.C. for 100 YES students that shall last for one whole week. Ever since she said that I was determined to attend this workshop, and do my best during the selection process. A goal was set ahead of me, and I saw my dreams and hopes flying with me in t...

Not every exchange experience is the same, simply because every student is different, and every place is different too. Comparing an experience to another is a huge mistake, yet looking at each one individually triggers curiosity to those who are not part of it to know more.  Not every day is rainbows and sunshine, but surly not every other day is clouds and rain. One bad day shall never ruin a year long experience, and one good day will create memories that will spring in the happiness of many other days to come.     My day today was one of a kind. A day that shall keep me motivated for a good period of time. It's a day that I can smile at and tell myself that I actually invested my time in the project of my successful ways of living. I'll never be the wise person who advises people with powerful talks.  I'll never be the big boss who's in charge. Instead, or at least for now, I am going to live for the present and do my best in influencing a change in this communit...

The person who almost left the state seven months ago because of dogs, was actually volunteering today as a waitress to save them.  Major changes in our lives have small details that shape the different paths that we decide to walk and experience in our normal days. We never know how a massive fear would turn into a source of joy once we undergo it with courage and faith. Being terrified of dogs was the biggest and first problem that faced me in the US, but today proved that my fear was a lesson which consisted of different chapters. Each chapter had a story that taught me something different, and each time I would appreciate the fact that it took me seventeen years to pet a dog.  After a suggestion from my friend who's a member in the Friends For Animals club in the school, we decided to volunteer together at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday to help the animals. I was personally surprised of my ability to wake up that early and go serve people at a restaurant for...