Thursday, March 19^th, 2009 was and will remain a night I will always remember. Ten Eleanor Roosevelt High School female students: Megan Cortez, Devin Fendlay, Amber Ferguson, Sara Harris, Kaila Lindo, Emily Moore, Sindhu Nair, Elizabeth Sheridan, Joanna Tooley-Jose, and myself were invited to the White House to participate in a dinner celebrating Women’s Heritage Month. These top 10 juniors and seniors were chosen based on their excellent GPAs. In addition, female students from numerous DC public schools were also invited. The dinner took place in order to honor various women who had left their mark in history, which included Lisa Leslie, Bobbi Brown, Debra Lee, Kerry Washington, Alicia Keys, and many others. The event was also hosted by our very own first lady, Michelle Obama.

The event started at 6:00 PM sharp where all 110 metropolitan school girls were able to “meet and greet” with each other and the celebrities. During this time, students swarmed the celebrities in hopes of gaining a picture or an autograph, and I was no exception. Then around 7:00 PM dinner proceeded in an elegant, crystal filled dining hall. Each guest of honor was put at a table filled with about five to six girls in order to dine and discuss their own experiences and achievements with the students. I was extremely grateful to rub elbows with one of my inspirations, the first female African American Astronaut, Mae Jamison.
        The night was filled with up-lifting speeches and performances by Sheryl Crow, Sarah Jones, and Alicia Keys. Michelle Obama also lit up the night with her warm presence and words of inspiration. Positivity was the theme of the night and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room after Fran Drescher’s speech on her triumphant battle with cancer. At the end of the night, all students received a heart-warming hug and a few words of wisdom from the First Lady herself.

My night at the White House was of extreme value. Beyond the souvenirs, I gained knowledge and inspiration from such dignified women. Their stories and experiences touched me in many ways. I learned that practice makes perfect, life is full of obstacles that must be conquered, but most importantly I learned to remain passionate and optimistic about life. As a high school senior about to head into college, staying positive and patient is definitely the key to my own success.