This year's Sixth Form Politics trip to Washington DC was an unforgettable experience, which brought our study of the US political system to life. It was incredibly inspiring to visit the buildings and venues that are the foundation of American political institutions, including the White House, the Supreme Court and the Capitol. A walking tour of Washington also allowed us to visit some of the city’s iconic locations, such as the Washington Monument and the WWII memorial.

For me, the Lincoln Memorial made a deep impression, and seeing Lincoln’s most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address, engraved on its walls was particularly meaningful. Another one of my highlights was our trip to the National Archives, where we saw original texts of key political documents: the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.

As well as enriching our understanding of US politics and history, we were lucky to have free time to explore the city and experience American culture while travelling around on the Metro! Our trip also coincided with the National Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, and we were lucky enough to see the stunning blossom in full bloom, which was a part of the trip that I will never forget.

By Ariana (L6)