by Markell, Glenville High School

Today we saw the M.L.K statue for the first time.

It was a very moving moment for me. I thought about all of the pain and suffering that everyone went through for me, and it almost brought me to tears. While I was standing there looking at the statue, I could see all of the civil rights leaders, activists and common people standing around saying “thank you” and “it’s about time.”

I also said to myself: he is the only African American who has a statue that big and in the D.C. area for doing great work. It should not be this way, but it is.

We as a people need to stop the madness. We have come too far with President Barak Obama. We should move forward and not backward.

While I was looking at the statue, I felt an abundance of joy. I felt like having church services for a moment. Today I feel good because Dr. King is finally getting what he deserved.

When I finally walked away from the statue, I really did not want to leave it. I really wanted to camp out at the statue, but I let my final thoughts settle in and walked away, determined to be a positive influence on the world.

I will always remember this trip forever more.

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by Christopher, Lincoln West High School

This past weekend 42 of my Cleveland Metropolitan School District classmates and I were given the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. 

This field trip changed my life both physically and mentally. 

Truthfully, before this trip, I didn’t know a lot about Martin Luther King Jr. By the end of this trip I learned a lot about Dr. King such as his real name was Michael, he graduated from Morehouse College, he attended segregated public schools, he graduated high school at 15 and he became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist church in Montgomery, Ala. Dr. King was also a member of the NAACP but most importantly he fought for justice and equal rights for African Americans.

Everything was such a humbling experience, I feel really inspired and special. I realized that I am the future, and I have a lot of things in my life that I can fulfill if I put my mind to it.

I made new friends and kept great memories. Now it’s up to me to bring everything I learned back to my family, community and especially my school. I will graduate this year, attend college next year, and I am looking forward to the rest of my life. 
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by George, Martin Luther King Jr. High School  

When we arrived in D.C., the first thing we did was go to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

I was very excited because I felt that it was time for Dr. King’s success to be recognized in our nation’s capital. We didn’t get to see the other monuments, but that’s okay with me. M.L.K’s statue was the most important due to the fact that he represented and fought for all people of color.

I feel this was a really good experience for me because where I’m from, you don’t get to see stuff like this. I felt good being dressed in a suit and tie standing up for something I believe in which is pride, respect and brotherhood.  All of the people here were so proud to see this national monument for Dr. King.

I have so much history and facts to go back to Cleveland and tell my friends.  I just hope they take heed to what I have to bring.

I once heard this quote by Sean “P Diddy” Combs. He said “We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves.” I choose to live by that quote every day I wake up.

And the best part of this trip was the fact that while I’m the only child in my family, and I made 42 new brothers this weekend.
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by La’Dale, John Adams High School

This trip to Washington D.C. opened my eyes to a world of possibilities, and I am very excited to get back to Cleveland to share my experience with my family, friends and fellow students.  I think it will help them to see the world differently. 

Seeing the huge statue dedicated to man who looks like me has changed my outlook on my life. Knowing my history and seeing my potential has inspired me to do my best, and to also help my fellow students to do this.  Despite having the official ceremony cancelled due to weather, it was still wonderful to be able to be up close and personal to the 30-foot monument. 

While we traveled to Washington D.C. to see the monument of Dr. King being unveiled, it was some of the other places that we visited that had a great impact on me.  This trip taught me a lot about Frederick Douglass, Emmitt Till, Benjamin Elijah Mays and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I had never heard the full stories on Frederick Douglass or Emmitt Till but hearing each of their stories really made me think.  I also made some new friends and met some good role models.