Walking to the Lincoln Memorial

Written by: Yareli Duarte, Caminos al Futuro 2026

We’re walking there?

Coming from a city where commuting is mostly done via cars and buses, I found it difficult to believe that a national treasure could be considered walking distance from where I live.

The first excursion with my cohort, the day after we arrived in DC, was a trip to the Lincoln Memorial. During the short walk from campus, as we discussed our hometowns and dreams for the future, I began feeling more connected to everyone. Despite not yet knowing every name, our conversations felt surprisingly natural, with constant laughter, and I started feeling comfortable, even though I was thousands of miles away from my hometown of Santa Ana, California.

The architecture in DC, with large, federal buildings towering over each other, was a sight I had only seen in movies. Even though I was just strolling down the sidewalk, I felt like I was part of the government.

Because of my desire to document everything, I became the group photographer, taking pictures of my cohort in front of every building, and capturing the DC environment, with its busy streets full of posters advocating for human rights. 

After our trip to the Lincoln Memorial the first week of the program, I continued to connect with my peers while learning more about DC through trips to the Library of Congress, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the US Supreme Court, and the US Capitol Building. Though I was in awe of the city’s buildings when viewing from the outside, being on the inside was especially surreal.

Prior to arriving in DC, I assumed it was little more than a hotspot for political tension. Now, I understand that it is a place filled with diversity, with people of all ages and ethnicities advocating for causes they believe in and with many incredible institutions meant to support and represent them.