“Once you get out there, you are never going to want to come back,” is a quote repeated to me from my father as my spring turned into summer before my senior year, and the opportunity of a lifetime to travel and attend Indiana Electric’s Youth Tour to Washington, D.C was quickly approaching. Throughout my life, the idea of representing our country has always been etched within my brain. When the chance appeared to tour the place where this passion originates, it was an easy decision for me to make. As I matured, the idea of public service and volunteerism has gradually led me to a passion, and impacting my community has become a central goal of mine. I strive to represent my generation by leading our nation and furthering it through the twenty-first century, and my visit to Washington, D.C., showed me where I can accomplish it.
My excitement began as our bus left the Indiana Electric campus and our first leg of the trip took us to Columbus, Ohio. This short stint was only a warmup for the difficult stretches ahead as we pushed through the Pennsylvania hillscape to our first stop, the Flight 93 Memorial. We stepped out of the bus on this cool Monday morning and hiked the two-mile loop up and down the memorial. Starting in the museum, we learned about the events that took place on this dark morning for our country. As we left the museum, we stepped out onto the viewing deck, which shows the jolting flight path as the plane took its final soar. Once we walked down, we saw the exact landing spot and had the honor to speak with park rangers walking the floor.
After this, we loaded up and got back on the turnpike and headed to the battlefields of Gettysburg. We arrived in the war-torn town and settled down for the night. In the morning, we got the opportunity to walk these historic grounds with many knowledgeable guides and learned the ins and outs of this pivotal battle during the Civil War. With our brains and stomachs full, we geared up for the final stretch of the trip. We were finally D.C.-bound, and my excitement was only growing.
As we finally crossed the Potomac River, I entered our nation’s capital with stars in my eyes. That night, we attended the Marine Corps Military Parade at Iwo Jima, where we got a first-hand look at the musical side of this military branch. We followed this up the next day with our trip to the Capitol Building, and I got the opportunity to meet with many of our state’s representatives. This is where we met Senator Todd Young and had the opportunity to speak with him about many current issues. “Use your talents and work with others to do good. That’s what our democracy was built on,” was his main message he preached during our time, which was a true gateway into the days that followed.
On Thursday, we had a busy schedule full of museums and monuments from the Aerospace Museum to the National Archives, and ended our night at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association rally with over 1,800 students, where we networked with forty-two other states and territories. The relationships we made this night carried over to the next day, where our entire student body filled the National Mall. This day was very action-packed, as was everywhere from the Washington Monument to the Arlington National Cemetery. It was not just sightseeing as we were thrown right into international news. On Wednesday, we were able to witness the Trump administration’s hundred-foot-tall flags being erected on the White House lawn. Along with that, we were roaming D.C. while our leadership was planning an attack on Iran, and we were able to witness Trump’s final trip to the Pentagon before the operation commenced.
Overall, the entire experience was second-to-none and the sights you see and relationships you create will last a lifetime. After talking to my friend and delegate from Benton Central High School, Izzy Sayre, she proclaimed, “My biggest takeaway from DC was that there are so many opportunities for young people out there, it’s just a matter of taking them.” This statement relates to many students today and their blindness towards these resources. She added, “I was able to make so many friends and have so many impactful experiences just by putting myself out there. You should apply to this trip to broaden your horizons and make the most of the trip of a lifetime.” Opportunities exist, and the Indiana Electric’s Youth Tour to Washington, D.C. is one you will not want to miss
The process to apply is easy and is open to many students here at Lewis Cass. It is open to any high school junior on Miami-Cass REMC power lines, where you can apply through Indiana Electric Cooperatives. For the 2026 trip, applications open November 1st, 2025. No matter your background or goal in life, this trip will change the way you view our country and open up the world of electric cooperatives. The amount of knowledge you gain over the course of the week is substantial, and you will truly see the power in politics.
I cannot thank Miami-Cass REMC enough for sponsoring this life-changing trip. To apply, click the attached application link.
