Fourth of July in Washington, DC

Written by: Aaron Pardo, Caminos al Futuro 2026

When I first learned I would be spending the Fourth of July away from home, I wasn't exactly thrilled. Every year, the Fourth of July had always meant celebrating with family, watching fireworks, putting something on the grill, and enjoying the traditions that made the holiday familiar year after year. This year it would be different: I would have to go through this holiday seemingly by myself. Somehow, the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding had perfectly aligned with my time in Washington, D.C., and instead of feeling excited, I found myself thinking about everything I was going to miss back home, consumed by the fear that everyone would be making memories without me.

This feeling only grew stronger as the night carried on. By 8:00 p.m., the thirteen of us had already found a spot along the Potomac River, ready well before the scheduled 10:30 p.m. fireworks show. All we had to do was wait an annoying but manageable 2 hours and thirty minutes, and wait we did. Mother Nature had different plans for this day. A weather delay pushed everything back, and the waiting felt endless. The humid Washington summer air was relentless. Normally I am the one constantly talking, making jokes, keeping everyone entertained, but that night even I had gone unusually quiet. The muggy air drained everything out of me, and I caught myself complaining a lot more than usual. Then, the rain came. I welcomed it at first, hoping it would cool things down, but all it did was soak my clothes while somehow leaving the humidity completely untouched. My handheld fan became my best friend as I started to wonder if the fireworks were even going to happen in the first place.

Then, at 11:59 p.m., the sky ignited in color. The first burst of red, white, and blue shot into the night sky above the Potomac, followed by another and another until it seemed like the river itself had become alive. Poseidon had risen from the Potomac, sending streams of fire into the heavens. Blinding lights erupted from the water, climbing higher and higher before reflecting across the entire river. 

As incredible as the fireworks were, what made the night unforgettable was not the display itself; it was looking around, in the middle of laughter and complaints, at twelve people who had been complete strangers just two weeks prior, realizing that I wasn't missing out on memories back home — that instead, I was creating new memories with my cohort. 

Caminos al Futuro has given me far more than college prep or thought-provoking discussions. It has given me experiences I never could have planned for and friendships I never expected to build. I came to DC hesitant and worried that spending Independence Day away from home would leave me with regret. Instead, during one of the most historic Fourth of July celebrations in our nation's history, I found myself at the center, building memories I know I will carry long after the last firework faded from the sky.