It’s peculiar how eighteen hours (thirty-six hours, collectively) on a smelly, packed coach bus can bring more than fifty completely different JROTC cadets so much closer together. (This can be applied literally as well.) People were littered about, engaging in slumber in the narrow corridor down the middle of the bus, semi-curled on two-seaters (three if you got lucky), or extremely compacted in their own little seat. Stuffed animals with names and adopted nicknames were passed between people, cuddled briefly, then passed on again. Pillows were a necessity. Breakfast at Denny’s was a gift. The wonderful culmination of suffering mixed with discussion of personal matters, hand games, and random realizations made my trip to Macon, Georgia, absolutely amazing.

I was invigorated with adrenaline, while simultaneously wracked with nerves. It was a moving experience, and making it to Nationals made it all the more worthwhile. I could go on about the details, but in the end, the true memorable moments will stay with me regardless if I record them or not.

That’s all I really have to say for now. I might add more later, but for now, I’m recovering from the experience. It was great.