Honors College 2024 Day 5: Reflecting on History and Thinking About Our Future
Honors College 2024 Day 5: Reflecting on History and Thinking About Our Future
This is the fifth and final story in a series of blog posts written by the Fisher Family Honors Program class of 2025 detailing their experiences in Washington, D.C. for CDDRL's annual Honors College.
The last day of CDDRL Honors College began differently from the others. While most of our other stops — federal agencies, the White House, NGOs — immersed us in the day-to-day work required to protect democracy around the globe, Friday’s first visit offered another perspective. Our trip to the National Museum of African American History and Culture invited us to consider the rich and often difficult history that our democracy is founded on and challenged us to understand the true meaning and value of the American ideals we continue to strive for.
We arrived at the National Museum of African American History and Culture at 8:30 am, hours before doors usually open to the general public. We were fortunate to have the entire museum to ourselves and embarked on a private tour of the newest Smithsonian addition. Our group grew quiet as our guide led us to the beginning of the “Defending Freedom, Defining Freedom” exhibit. Each moved at their own pace through a series of informational panels that chronicled both incomprehensible suffering and incredible resilience. We eventually emerged to a floor of the museum that juxtaposed our founding fathers and values with the reality of slavery in the United States. By 11:00 am, we reached the top of the exhibit — an overhanging balcony-style space filled with records of African-American political and cultural achievements. But even as it honored our progress toward a more perfect, equal union, the final part of the exhibit asked us to remember where we started. As we read about the election of Barack Obama, we could also see a searing reminder from James Baldwin, etched in massive letters onto the exhibit wall:
The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it… history is literally present in all that we do.
This powerful message provided a fitting transition to our next stop: the U.S. Capitol. We met Ben Chao, ‘17, Legislative Director for Rep. Tokuda (D-HI), at the Longworth House Office Building and embarked on a fascinating journey through the Capitol complex's underground tunnels. Along the way, we passed the offices of numerous well-known representatives, admired students’ paintings from a national art competition, and even spotted my own representative, Rep. Glenn Ivey. Once inside the main Capitol building, we were captivated by the grandeur of the rotunda. As we explored the building's various halls, we learned about the statues representing each state. The sheer number of visitors bustling about the Capitol was a testament to its accessibility and the public's enduring connection to this iconic institution.
The highlight of our visit to the Capitol was a panel discussion featuring several Stanford alumni. I approached the panel with many questions and left feeling a renewed sense of optimism about our legislature and a heightened interest in working on Capitol Hill. Each speaker emphasized the importance of passion and continuous learning in their roles, sharing their experiences of rapid growth, meaningful contributions, and ongoing commitments to public service. They also each approached the work from differing perspectives; some were in Senate offices and others in the House; some had majored in public policy while others had majored in human biology; others had been on the Hill for years and others for months. It was truly inspiring to hear their enthusiasm and pride in their work, especially given the prevailing pessimism surrounding institutions like Congress. Their positive outlook offered a refreshing contrast to the cynicism so often associated with government.
Over the course of the week, we visited government agencies, think tanks, and NGOs, gaining invaluable insights into the ongoing efforts to strengthen and improve American democracy. Our visit to the Capitol, a tangible representation of these democratic principles, was a fitting conclusion to our journey.
After the Capitol visit, we capped off the day with an alumni happy hour. CDDRL alumni from various classes gathered to enjoy an evening of conversation and charcuterie. Similar to the speakers we heard on the Hill, these alumni brought diverse backgrounds and perspectives, actively engaging with democracy, development, and the rule of law in a variety of ways. The weeks’ visits and discussions had already deepened our understanding of the paths we could take, and meeting CDDRL alumni — essentially future versions of ourselves — served as an inspiring reminder of the impact we can make. It was a powerful way to end our journey, leaving us motivated and excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
