After joining the Cooperative Youth Tour as a Youth Advisor for the last two years, I was asked to help lead the effort this year. We bused rising Seniors and Juniors from across the state to our nation’s capital. I’ve visited Washington, DC, many times, but there is nothing like experiencing it on the Cooperative Youth Tour. Leading some of NC’s brightest is an experience I will never forget.

Seeing the historical sites and monuments and learning about our nation’s capital is exciting, but the real excitement lies in seeing the transformation in the students. Some students have never left their rural communities before. This was their first time staying away from their parents in a big city. The experience can be overwhelming for some, but we are there to help them navigate the moment. We support them and help them discover that there is a vast world waiting for them to explore. The opening session is usually quiet, but by the end of the week, students have bonded and made relationships that will last a lifetime.

The tour is not all fun and games. We visit many memorials that remind us that the freedoms and liberties we enjoy in America are because of the many sacrifices of others before us. While visiting the Arlington Cemetery, I listened to a ranger talk. He was passionate and committed to giving an unbiased account of history. His stories may have been uncomfortable for some. The truth is America has a complicated past full of many moments, some more beautiful than others. The ranger reminded us that we must study all of it to learn from it so we do not repeat our mistakes.

We had a great group of delegates, and I know they will go on to do great things in their communities. I came back super tired from all that walking, but it was worth it knowing we are helping develop America's future leaders. It’s more than a trip. It’s an opportunity to invest in our youth and help them reach their full potential.

David Spencer Director of Marketing & Communications