The Howard Baker Center at the University of Tennessee annually sponsors a trip to Washington D.C. to enlighten and expand the minds of the Baker Center learning community, honors students and political science majors. 

I participated in their second annual trip as an alternative to the over-crowded beaches of Florida.  We spent four nights and five days exploring the political hub of our nation.  One day was given to the students to take in the sites and sounds of the bustling Capitol.  The rest of the trip was spent rushing from one museum to the next and meeting with the people who keep our country running.

Some stops included:

1. Newseum
2. National Archives
3. Smithsonian
4. Library of Congress
5. Dirksen Senate building
6. Capitol
7. National Museum of American History
8. UT federal relations representative, Kurt Schlieter
9. Lamar Alexander's press assistant Lesley Landrum

When we weren't hopping from one Metro stop to another to make our next meeting, we enjoyed the delicious ethnic foods, amazing shopping and breath-taking historical sites. 

"It was a great opportunity to be in a lively city during time off," R.J. Lusk, a freshman interested in logistics and Spanish, said.  "The Baker Center provides so many great chances to meet with high profile people and provides ample access to exclusive locations. I loved the fact that we sat in on a senate session at a moment's notice. More than anything, it was a great chance to see how the nation's capital works and was more than the average tourist would get to see. It was a great way to spend the break because it created opportunities for people to have access to a multitude of resources and to visit a great city."

It was a great opportunity to be in a lively city during time off.
R.J. Lusk

The trip received rave reviews from all participating students.  "This was much better than going to Panama City and getting drunk all week," Tyler King, a freshman in pre-professional interest, said.  "It was a great learning experience and helped me realize my dreams of a career in D.C. one day could be achieved."

Maddie Brown, a freshman interested in journalism and electronic media, said, "Besides all of the politics and history in D.C., the city is just fun to explore. There's some beautiful architecture, some wonderful hole-in-the-wall restaurants and a carpe-diem attitude in D.C."

"I really enjoyed meeting with Senator Alexander's intern, who was a UT graduate," Brown said. "She was very honest and informative about her job."

Most spring break trips will create unforgettable memories.  For me, some highlights were driving in a cab and passing Obama's motorcade and networking with some key people in Washington D.C. that could lead to future internships and career opportunities.