Moon River: My Last Week in D.C.

The final week was very sentimental. Not only did it mark the completion of my first internship, but it also symbolized a major milestone in my journey. Never once did I imagine there would be a summer when I wasn’t working in the fields. I had come to a point in my life where I had accepted that this was simply the way life would always be.

However, thanks to the National HEP/CAMP Association, my dreams became a reality. My work pants were no longer old, torn hand-me-downs from my parents, but well-fitted black business slacks. My biggest concern was no longer whether I had picked enough blueberries to earn a decent wage, but whether I was going to miss the next metro train. Never have I been so grateful to have sore feet from wearing heels all day, or to visit a laundromat just to make sure my blazer smelled fresh for the next day.

It was in these small moments that made me realize my struggles became privileges. Leaving meant that I had completed a chapter of life that my family had never experienced before, and I am truly blessed to have lived it.

The Final Night

Leaving also meant saying goodbye to the incredible connections I made. Saying goodbye to the interns in my office was bittersweet, but not too sad since we all live in Michigan and knew we’d see each other again soon. The final day of CHCI programming, however, was much harder. Every CHCI intern shared their personal testimony. It was deeply emotional, and by the end, we all embraced in a big group hug, soaking in the growth we had experienced together throughout the summer. Saying goodbye to Washington, D.C. itself was also emotional. I had begun to fall in love with the city. I found myself living like a local the entire time, so I spent my last week exploring new food spots and collecting as many souvenirs as possible. But the hardest goodbye was to the family I created, the HEP/CAMP group. On our final night, all of the HEP/CAMP and CHCI interns gathered at Western Market for one last meal, sharing stories and connecting on a deeper level. Afterwards, we visited the monuments one last time, trying to savor every last moment. That night, I said goodbye to Angel, Yaisy, and William. It was incredibly hard, not just because they had become some of my closest friends, but because none of us could take the goodbye seriously! Deep down, we knew this wasn’t really the end (and I still know that’s true).

The next morning, I headed to the airport with Ivette, Lesly, and Andres. We decided to take the metro one last time before flying out. Even though it was stressful, I already miss it. Andres and Lesly walked me to my gate before heading to theirs. We shared our final inside jokes and just like that, it was over.

Leaving meant going home with an incredible number of memories and stories, but more importantly, with knowledge and inspiration I can now pass on to my community. It was a bittersweet feeling: while I was cherishing the past, I was also excited about the future and everything that comes next.

With the most grateful heart, Thank you once again, HEP/CAMP.