Every other year, Academy Northwest's South Seattle Learning Center—the Learning Center I attend—participates in an incredible scholastic adventure called National History Day (NHD). Fondly christened "history daze" by my friends and me, this event occurs every year at the regional, state, and national levels. Students pick topics clearly defining the NHD theme of that school year. For 2003-2004, the NHD theme was "Exploration, Encounter, and Exchange in History." Here is where the "daze" comes in: students plan their school year according to the research they must complete for their drama presentation, term paper, documentary, or project display board.

Ten kids from my Learning Center who entered National History Day reached the state level. Amy Swanson, Emmett Smith, Melissa Rankin, and Sam Smith did a drama presentation on how the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890's impacted Seattle, calling it "Midas' Touch." Anna Dubnow and Hannah Harper presented Narcissa Whitman's womanly touch to westward travel by wagon train. Kayla Kandt decided to dramatize Sacajawea's amazing courage and fortitude along the trail with Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. Devon Alexander tried his hand at constructing a winning board displaying the incredible journeys of the Egyptian Queen, Hatshepsut. Molly Purcell and I braved the little-known territory of the term paper"she with her paper on lunar exploration and I with mine on the flight of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce in 1877.

At regionals, each person placed, some receiving rewards for the best use of primary sources; at state, Midas' Touch and Sacajawea earned First Places in their divisions, leaving the rest of us screaming hysterically from the stands. Only a month later, after much fundraising, my family and I found ourselves awaiting the flight out to Washington, D.C., with the Smith, Swanson, and Rankin families. Our teacher, Candice Childs, would be along for the trip of a lifetime, as well. Here is where the journey begins.

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