The Michigan representative’s grandfather is from my state; Wisconsin’s representative was my awesome roommate; Alabama’s representative had a spectacular newspaper-printed dress I still wish I owned; South Carolina’s representative and I bonded over our shared predicament of being Type 1 diabetics; Wyoming’s representative taught us Swedish in practice to be an exchange student in Sweden; I found my ballet-dancing twin in Colorado’s representative. These are just a sampling of the wonderful people I had the privilege of meeting during the 2015 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference.

I arrived in Washington, D.C. on the afternoon of June 20 feeling a little anxious, but unbelievably excited for the journey I was about to begin. Luckily, I had been conversing with my fellow Free Spirit scholars on social media for a few weeks prior to the conference, but I still wasn’t completely sure what to expect. As soon as I checked in and started meeting everyone, though, it was as if we had known each other for years.

During our stay in the nation’s capital from June 20-25, we toured the Newseum, USA Today newsroom, and US Capitol building, sat in on a live taping of Meet the Press at the Washington Bureau of NBC News, took part in a mock trial at the US Courthouse, and enjoyed a riverboat cruise on the Potomac. We heard from Freedom Riders Earnest “Rip” Patton and Joan Mulholland, former White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen, PBS Newshour hosts Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, author of The New York Times bestseller "The Monopolist" Mary Pilon, and the Committee to Protect Journalists Advocacy Director Courtney C. Radsch, PhD. There were card games during free moments in the evenings, singing battles during our bus rides, and a dance in the hotel ballroom on our final night. We enjoyed tours of the National Mall, panels with representatives of all departments the field of journalism has to offer, a “graduation” ceremony, and stories of Al Neuharth’s life and his founding of USA Today, the Newseum, and Freedom Forum.

Since the time I departed from the conference in summer 2015, I have loved keeping in contact with my 50 friends from around the country and seeing the great exploits they are accomplishing every day. We stay connected through our GroupMe message or Facebook group and even had a Christmas gift exchange this past December. It has been amazing watching everyone as they finished out their high school careers, decided on colleges, and recently moved into dorm rooms. I know that if I ever need help or advice, I can turn to these brilliant, witty, compassionate comrades of mine who completely embody the Free Spirit Conference’s motto of “Dream. Dare. Do.”

I am so thankful Al Neuharth created a program that encourages rising seniors to explore the field of journalism and what free press and free speech mean. In the 14 months since my journey at the conference, there has not been a day that I have not thought about what I gained from that life-changing week. From my senior civics class to watching the news to contemplating what career I might want to pursue, I feel blessed to have experienced something that has made such an impact on the person I am and want to be.

While the conference offers amazing opportunities and memories, I believe the spark it lights in its graduates and the friendships it fosters are the true testament to Al Neuharth’s legacy. This conference reaffirmed my love for storytelling and the amazing country I have the privilege of calling my home. I am still in awe of how much my life changed in those five days, and am forever grateful it did.