The feeling of lifting off the ground in an airplane is unlike any other. Exhilaration is the only word that even comes close to describing this feeling, and that is how I feel every time I begin a new adventure to some far-off place.

At the start of my freshman year of high school, I could never imagine the places I would visit in just one short year. As a junior in high school, my brother had begun to consider potential colleges that interested him. As someone who loves to travel, whenever my brother went on a college tour, I would beg my parents to let me tag along. I was only fourteen, but both my parents and I figured I might as well start early.

Thinking back, I see how impatient I was to grow up, trying to always find ways to see a future I was not ready for yet. My brother, both smart and ambitious, decided to take a look at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. After much thought, my parents finally decided that it was time for a college visit to the academy.

Having been raised in Atlanta, Georgia, my family did not often travel to the Mid-Atlantic. Consequently, we had never visited Washington, D.C. Due to our light summer plans, my parents figured this would be a wonderful opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and make a quick pit stop in D.C., as Annapolis, Maryland, is only a forty-six-minute drive from it.

While I was raised in Georgia, I was actually born in Stamford, Connecticut, so I was ecstatic to head up north. As a result, I spent days packing and preparing for our journey to Maryland. After we boarded the plane, as we were taking off, I took one last look at the ground as I left it behind. Even if it was for a short while, I noticed how I did not feel any sort of attachment to this place I called home.

After we had landed in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, we rented a car and prepared to explore D.C. My parents had planned a fun few hours for us, intending to visit two main attractions: the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Little did I know, however, that what started as a quick visit to D.C. turned into one of the most foundational moments of my life as an American citizen.

Built in 1914, the Lincoln Memorial has attracted millions of visitors in its lifetime, and due to my love for travel, it was a major item on my bucket list. As we arrived and walked closer to the monument, I saw how truly magnificent it was with its massive columns and temple-like design.

While I climbed the steps, I could not help but notice how one tile of marble stood out from the rest. The tile had four main words that will forever be etched into America’s identity: “I HAVE A DREAM.” From Martin Luther King Jr.’s most famous speech, “I Have a Dream,” these words stood for more than just a simple message. They were a call to action, reminding me that America is an agent of change, always adapting and transforming in new ways.

Today, whenever I see something wrong in society, I remember those words and do my best to take action.

As I entered the memorial, however, the thing that first captured my attention was not President Abraham Lincoln sitting in his massive chair but the writings along the wall. In particular, the first line stood out to me from the “Gettysburg Address.” Highlighting America’s unique and humble beginnings, it told of a “new nation . . . dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” This short claim instantly evoked a sense of pride in me, knowing that, in America, there is liberty for all.

Looking back on it, the Lincoln Memorial served as more than just a monument to me; it reminded me that ideals only matter when carried forward.

Our next stop was the ginormous obelisk standing right in the center of the National Mall. At first glance, the Washington Monument seemed to emanate and project power. When I looked closer at it, however, I realized the Washington Monument stands as a symbol of unity. Surrounded by fifty flags, one for each state, it serves as a symbol that while all fifty states may not be physically touching, they will forever be united as one nation.

While built to serve as a remembrance to one man, the monument carries on the beliefs of the country he built and stood for. I could not help but gaze up at the monument in awe, wondering how such a bland piece of stone could mean so much to so many people.

It was obvious to me why so many people come to just walk in the National Mall. Just to feel the connection to such a dense and unique shared history leaves an unforgettable impression. Today, I hope that in America’s darkest moments, symbols such as the Washington Monument stand as a reminder of unity and perseverance.

No one is truly American. America is a petri dish full of all sorts of different people, cultures, and identities that, through common experiences, are intertwined and united as one nation. While my journey to Washington, D.C. may have been short, it has etched in me a sense of pride and love for America that I never had before.

Today, America stands as the strongest superpower in the world, not because of its military might but because of its unity. Through shared history and humble beginnings backed by strong ideals, America has become what it is today. Even now, reflecting on all America means to me, I am beginning to feel that sense of exhilaration just knowing that I am part of it.