Written by: Crisitian Zelada, Caminos al Futuro 2022
Being accepted to the program made me happy because I knew this would be a one-of-a-kind opportunity. I was excited because I would get the chance to meet people who have a similar background and experiences as me, and a chance to explore Washington D.C.
The 4th of July was an unforgettable day because it was the first time I had seen fireworks at the Capitol. Not only that but seeing the fireworks with other people in the Caminos al Futuro program made it special. The experience of walking at night is something that added a sense of mystery to me, especially since I did not know the Washington, D.C. area yet. When the fireworks started, I knew I wanted to record it and have a memory of it all because I knew this moment would happen again. I don’t mean watching the fireworks, but the experience of seeing fireworks with other people on the program again in the future. Although this was one of the first days of the program, it was one of the most unique parts of my three weeks here. I hope to have many experiences with the rest of my colleagues in the program and get the most out of it.
Cristian Zelada is a Caminos al Futuro 2022 scholar. Cristian’s views are his own and not necessarily reflective of the Cisneros Institute.