Heart pounding, breathing frozen, fear and impatience, all these feelings coursed through my veins as I sat there in pure terror. I was one of six contestants awaiting the results of the once-terrifying interview with so much at stake. Eager for results, but afraid of the truth. Weeks earlier I had written an essay. Surprisingly, three of my other classmates and I had been chosen to interview for a trip to Washington DC. The interview invitation was something I never expected. My writing style can only be described as sloppy and disorganized, I never imagined I would win an essay contest. Interviewing was not something I would call a skill but simply a weakness. The day of the interview arrived and I sat terrified, adrenaline coursing through me. My name has been called, I'm next. Panicked, I got up, went to the door, I was as prepared as I will ever be. In an instant, a last minute surge of confidence filled me, I became unstoppable. What convinced me to become confident, I will never know. Only the hand of God could have changed the direction I was going. By speaking with confidence and clarity, I disrupted that interview, challenging them to ask me another question. Now I sit waiting in absolute terror. Was it enough? Did that last boost of confidence get me the interview? Would I have been chosen? My heart broke when I heard my name called. Joy and relief washed over me like a wave. The feeling was surreal, I couldn't believe what had just happened. The suspense was over and everything was fine. My classmates and I all won the trip. We represented Cimarron Electric Cooperative for the Oklahoma Youth Tour. This will be the trip of a lifetime. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The weeks leading up to the trip were exhilarating, I couldn't wait. The idea of ​​making new friends excited me, but it also scared me. Packing and preparing for this trip couldn't have excited me more. I arrive at the hotel to meet my future roommates, who will soon become best friends. I could never have predicted the memories that awaited me. That evening there was a farewell banquet. As all the students introduced themselves, I looked around guessing who my new friends would become. The next morning we checked out of the hotel and lined up in alphabetical order by last name. Lining up in alphabetical order wasn't a big deal, until it became the reason I met my first new friend of the trip. Since my last name is Hansen, I was in row H. That's when I met this girl, she was amazing. Words couldn't express it well enough, it was special. His name, Shayden Hanes, we just clicked. She and I related on so many levels, we talked from the moment we got on the airport bus to our gate. I couldn't contain the joy that filled my heart. Later, when we arrived in Dallas for our connecting flight, I met another person, Caleb. At first he was a good guy, almost a friend, but I don't consider him a friend due to what the future will soon hold for me. My jealousy of him becoming friends with Shayden would eventually tarnish our friendship. This journey has been full of wonders and new experiences, but it has also led to new difficulties and challenges in my social life. At that time I only saw the good and looked to the future. The uncertainty and excitement about the future is what has kept me anxiousmove forward in the week, to see what other opportunities lie ahead. At six in the morning, with the alarm going off, the first official day of the trip began! The feeling of excitement filled the air. I was ready to start exploring our nation's capital with my new friends. Thoughts about the potential of my new found friendships filled my head. As we headed to our first location, Arlington Cemetery, thoughts of friendship temporarily left my mind as I hung out the bus window. Words cannot describe the massive beauty of the park where our fallen heroes sleep. As I explored this huge and beautiful tomb, there was more than just the excitement of learning in my mind. The desire to build a friendship slowly crept into my mind. Of course I wanted to explore and learn as much as possible, but I was very excited to make new friends and share these experiences with them. We soon arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where I finally caught up with Shayden. It didn't take long and we were talking. We shared a great experience here, as we met one of the guards. After visiting Arlington Cemetery, we went to the Newseum. A museum about the free press, our first amendment rights. As exhilarating as this museum was, I wanted to spend time with Shayden. It didn't take long and found me gazing in awe at a piece of the Berlin Wall. The wall was imposing, on one side covered in a vast layer of graffiti, on the other smooth as the sun. The Newseum was filled with famous titles from hundreds of years ago to the present day. As these wonders unfolded before my eyes, a friendship was slowly blossoming. This friendship could only be described as indescribable. The wonders of our nations were magnificent, but as the week progressed, my focus soon changed. This girl was amazing. An exceptional person who I could call my friend. We were sharing so many experiences together. Like the Holocaust Museum, the National Espionage Museum and the Smithsonians. We both had a desire to learn, combined with the passion of our friendship. We have become inseparable, we will soon become best friends. Of all the great things about Washington DC, it became the highlight of my trip. My essay, the nerve-wracking interview, was worth meeting. I was so happy to have been chosen to undertake such an adventurous journey, because otherwise our paths would never have crossed. At the height of our friendship, Caleb came to our world, my world would soon be destroyed, the friendship that had blossomed so beautifully during this journey suddenly began to fade. While a new person diverts his attention. It was obvious that our friendship wasn't really fading. I was simply a jealous fool, attention from her was all I craved. This jealousy led to me and Caleb struggling to remain friends as we both barely got along. Soon the week began to progress. Countless memories were made, but one distinct evening truly stuck in my mind. The sunset parade at the Lincoln Memorial. Our group of friends, Shayde, Caleb and I sat down. We watched the soldiers march in front of us, while the sun set behind them. Caleb leaves, we have no idea where he went. The parade was magnificent and the sunset was even better. Mady, one of my classmates who also went on the trip, joined me and Shayden. We climbed the mountainous steps of the enormous statue of Abraham Lincoln. Breathtaking could only describe the large size of the.